A-2. Discuss Lake Susan Park Archery Range Options A -2.
MEMORANDUM
CITY OF TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
CIIANIASSFN FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director
7700 Markel Boulevard
DATE: October 10, 2016
PBox 147 ; UBJ: Recommended Options; Lake Susan Park Archery Range
Chanhassen,MN 55317
Administration
Phone:952.227.1100 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MOTION
Fax:952.227.1110
On September 27, 2016, the Park and Recreation Commission made the following
Building Inspections recommendation to the City Council regarding options for the Lake Susan Park
Phone:952.227.1180 Archery Range:
Fax:952.227.1190
Commissioner Canon moved and Commissioner Echternacht seconded that the
Engineering City Council consider the following options for the future of the Lake Susan Park
Phone:952.227.1160 Archery Range:
Fax:952.227.1170
1. The archery range be re-opened following the installation of a portable
Finance overhead structure and seasonally installed containment curtains designed
Phone:952.227.1140
Fax:952.227.1110 to restrict the flight of arrows, modification of the facility rules/ordinances
to require that bows and arrows remained cased until inside the enclosure,
Park&Recreation that archers under 18 years of age be accompanied by an adult or be
Phone:952.227.1120 participating in a supervised class or program, and the addition of more
Fax:952.227.1110 signage informing archers of all safety rules and requirements.
Recreation Center
Additionally, that the installation of a surveillance camera to record video
2310 Coulter Boulevard imagery at the range be considered.
Phone:952.227.1400
Fax:952.227.1404 2. The Lake Susan Park Archery Range be permanently closed, the range
equipment and targets be donated to the City of Shakopee, and a trail
Planning& extension to the Powers Boulevard trail be constructed in place of the
Natural Resources range. Utilize the Parks and Recreation System Plan and Parks and Open
Phone:952.227.1130
Fax:952.227.1110 Space Comprehensive planning efforts to identify whether or not another
location for a municipal archery range can be identified.
Public Works
7901 Park Place Commissioners Thunberg, Boettcher, Hougham, Dale, Canon, Echternacht,
Phone:952.227.1300 and Scharfenberg voted in favor, Commissioner Kelly voted against and the
Fax:952.227.1310 motion passed on a 7 to 1 vote.
Senior Center
Phone:952.227.1125 BACKGROUND
Fax:952.227.1110
Wohsite On September 12, 2016, the City Council requested that the Park and Recreation
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us Commission identify options for the Lake Susan Archery Range for consideration
at their October 10 work session.
Chanhassen is a Community for Life-Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Todd Hoffman
Lake Susan Park Archery Range
Page 2
On August 23,2016,the Commission directed staff to provide the cost and feasibility of a
temporary structure to encompass the shooting range firing line and any additional safety
measures that we can consider at our next commission meeting and that the temporary closure of
the range be maintained at this time.
On June 28,2016,the Park and Recreation Commission heard concerns from neighbors about
the archery range and took the following action: Commissioner Hougham moved and Thunberg
seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission temporarily close the archery range at Lake
Susan Park. All commissioners voted in favor except for Scharfenberg who abstained, and the
motion carried with a vote of 6 to 0 with 1 abstention.
On June 28,2016, a neighborhood meeting was held in West Lake Court to discuss the reported
discovery of an arrow at 8260 West Lake Court.
On June 20,2016,the city received an e-mail from a resident residing in West Lake Court
notifying us that they had discovered an arrow in their backyard.
DISCUSSION
Archery in Chanhassen
In addition to the Lake Susan Park Archery Range, archery as a sport is conducted in a number
of other locations within the community:
• The City of Chanhassen, in partnership with Carver County, offer family archery and
girls and boys archery camps for children ages 5 to 16 years of age and adults. These
camps are traditionally held at the Lake Susan Park Archery Range,but are currently
being held at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park
• Bluff Creek Elementary School conducts archery classes on the playground and inside
the gym at Bluff Creek Elementary School.
• Camp Tannadoona features archery and an archery range as a primary component of their
campground experience.
• Minnetonka Community Education offers classes for recreational archery and
competition archery in the Minnetonka Middle School Gymnasium.
• Bow hunting is permitted throughout the community on any parcel of land containing a
minimum of 10 acres.
• Bow hunting is permitted on the Seminary Fen Scientific and Natural Area and the
Raguet Wildlife Management Area.
• Although not currently permitted by city code,backyard archery is practiced by some
residents in the community.
The 500ft.Distance Restriction
Currently, city code allows for the discharge of arrows from bows at designated archery ranges,
and the discharge of both firearms and bow and arrow for hunting. Individuals utilizing public
areas within the community open to hunting need only to comply with State of Minnesota
Todd Hoffman
Lake Susan Park Archery Range
Page 3
regulations to access those areas for hunting. Individuals seeking to hunt on private property
must obtain a permit to discharge a firearm or a bow and arrow. The 500ft. distance restriction is
commonly applied as a blanket standard for these permits. City code also permits the discharge
of arrows from bows on parcels of land smaller than 10 acres if a determination is made that
arrows can be safely discharged on the property. Cities across the metropolitan region approach
the standard safety distances between the discharge of arrows and a dwelling differently. In the
city of Andover, 150ft. is required and the cities of Burnsville and Otsego require 200ft. Whether
you are discharging a firearm or arrow from a bow within the community, personal responsibility
to do so safely is required.
Public Archery Ranges in the Metropolitan Region
At the August 23 meeting,there was speculation cited that outdoor archery ranges are
uncommon in the twin cities metropolitan area. Outdoor public archery ranges located within
parks or on parkland are open and operating in the following communities:
Staring Lake Park - Eden Prairie
Marsh Lake Park—Bloomington
Carver Lake Park—Woodbury
Walnut Hill Park—Eagan
Pigs Eye Park— St. Paul
Pine Tree Pond Park - Cottage Grove
Keller Lake - Saint Paul
Marsden Lake - Arden Hills
Rapids Archery Club - Andover
Silver Creek Sportsmen's Park - Maple Lake
Lake Elmo Reserve - Lake Elmo
Lauderdale Community Park- Lauderdale
Scott Park - Apple Valley
Elm Creek Park Reserve - Maple Grove
Carver Park Reserve—Victoria
Elm Creek Park Reserve—Maple Grove
Sliding Hill Skate Park -New Prague
Edward C. Solomon Park - Minneapolis
Columbia Park - Minneapolis
Lake Calhoun - Minneapolis
Archery Park - Shakopee
Archery Site - Burnsville
Marsh Lake Park - Bloomington
Riverside Park - Carver
Lower Spring Lake Park - Rosemount
Northdale Park - Oakdale
Todd Hoffman
Lake Susan Park Archery Range
Page 4
Ritter Farm Park Club - Lakeville
W. Locke Park - Fridley
River Park - Brooklyn Park
Valley Park—Hopkins
Lake Susan Park—Chanhassen* Temporarily Closed
Floodplain
Following the August 23 meeting, Park and Recreation Commission staff contacted city and
watershed district personnel familiar with floodplain regulations and inquired if portable and/or
temporary enclosures and/or curtains would be permitted within the floodplain. Their response
was that as long as the structures are temporary and installed and removed seasonally, they
would be permitted.
Relocation to the West
A resident(s) proposed that the archery range be relocated to the west of its current location
across Powers Boulevard. This property is owned by the City of Chanhassen, but lacks the
ability to be serviced with an entrance road and parking facility. Lacking a vehicular access with
parking, this location is not a viable option for relocation.
Relocation to Another Location
The city does not currently own a property that could accommodate the relocation of the archery
range. Pursuing the acquisition of a parcel of land for a new archery range would be fiscally
challenging at this stage of development within the community. Funds in excess of two million
dollars would be required to acquire land, build roads and parking facilities, and associated
improvements. Additionally, open lands that would be suitable for the development of another
community park site are not readily available.
MN DNR Archery Range Grants
In the event that the installation of a portable overhead structure and seasonally installed
containment curtains designed to restrict the flight of arrows is approved, a matching grant from
the DNR Public Archery Range Grant program could be a partial funding source.
RECOMMENATION
The Park and Recreation Commission recommends that the City Council consider the following
options for the Lake Susan Park Archery Range:
1. The archery range be re-opened following the installation of a portable overhead structure
and seasonally installed containment curtains designed to restrict the flight of arrows,
modification of the facility rules/ordinances to require that bows and arrows remained
cased until inside the enclosure, that archers under 18 years of age be accompanied by an
adult or be participating in a supervised class or program, and the addition of more
signage informing archers of all safety rules and requirements. Additionally, that the
installation of a surveillance camera to record video imagery at the range be considered.
Todd Hoffman
Lake Susan Park Archery Range
Page 5
2. The Lake Susan Park Archery Range be permanently closed, the range equipment and
targets be donated to the City of Shakopee, and a trail extension to the Powers Boulevard
trail be constructed in place of the range. Utilize the Parks and Recreation System Plan
and Parks and Open Space Comprehensive planning efforts to identify whether or not
another location for a municipal archery range can be identified.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Park and Recreation Commission meeting minutes dated June 23, 2016 and August 23, 2016
2. Schematic diagrams of proposed portable overhead structure and containment curtains
3. Letters/Emails received
4. MN DNR Public Archery Range Grant Information
5. Images of Lake Susan Park archery range
6. Chanhassen Archery Range Report
c: Neighboring Residents via mail
MN DNR Archery Grant Coordinator
Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
Kelly: Thank you Paul.
Oehme: Sure, thank you.
DISCUSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING HELD AT WEST LAKE COURT
REGARDING THE ARCHERY RANGE.
Kelly: So at this time I'm going to move number 5 of reports up to number 3 under new
business because we've had some people waiting a little over an hour to have a chance to speak
at about what a meeting that was held in their neighborhood that Todd and I attended. It was at
West Lake Court and there are some issues with some bow and arrows going into the
neighborhood from the area you shoot bow and arrows at and I think Todd's identified with the
neighbors with 3 or 4 alternatives at this time and we've got a few people who'd like to speak
but I'm going to let Todd talk about the meeting and what was discussed and let the commission
know about it.
Hoffman: Thank you Chair Kelly,members of the commission. Lake Susan is one of our
community parks that has an archery range in it. It has 4 targets. Two at 20 yards, one at 30
yards and one at 40 yards. The archery range has been in place, approved obviously by a
previous Park and Recreation Commission and City Council as a part of that park plan
approximately 25 years ago. About the same time that the neighborhood, West Lake Court has
been developed and being just to the south. We share a property boundary at Lake Susan Park
with those neighbors. A gentleman emailed me and informed us that he had found,his daughter
had found an arrow in their wood pile which is in their back yard. Obviously most likely coming
from the archery range and so that's of great concern to the neighborhood and to us as well. This
is the first at least notification. Some of the neighbors tonight in our meeting did identify that
they had found other arrows over the years in their back yards or on their property and just had
not reported them. So we sent out a notification. We wanted to start the conversation to say hey
you know this is not acceptable to the City of Chanhassen either and so let's start a conversation
with the neighbors and staff is aware of it. Our law enforcement agency is aware of it. Our City
Council is aware of our conversation so really what's going to occur is we're going to take a look
at some options with the archery range at Lake Susan and you know what are viable options to
both preserve a facility such as an archery range in our community and in our park system but to
make it safe and you know put people at ease so they don't have to be concerned. Immediate
action that has been taken since the City has been notified is that we scheduled a neighborhood
meeting. We held that conversation tonight. Chairman Kelly was there along with us. Probably
had about 20-25 neighbors over time that came out and stuff and so I would say that that's a
good percentage of the cul-de-sac that was there this evening in that conversation. We will also
manufacture and post signage notifying the archery range users of this issue so they're aware of
the issue. There's you know obviously different opinions on how those arrows are ending up in
the neighbors yards. It can be either accidental discharge when people are drawing their bows or
you know somebody could intentionally be shooting those arrows in the neighborhood so those
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
are the two thoughts there. So we'll manufacture and post those signs at the archery range
notifying people of what this particular issue is currently taking place. Options, we'll present
some options at least in an initial phase at your July meeting and the options that we'll take a
look at are modifying the current archery range to include some kind of an enclosure and so
when people would enter the range we would modify, there's an ordinance modification. You
cannot discharge a weapon in the city of Chanhassen without a permit. The only place you can
discharge a weapon without a permit is Lake Susan Park at the archery range. That's by city
ordinance and that's only obviously a bow and arrow when utilizing it there at the archery range
and so if you create this enclosure where all arrows have to go down range. They cannot leave
the archery range area then you could just modify that ordinance to say that you cannot uncase
your bow unless you're in that enclosure and that would allow for some really clean enforcement
if law enforcement does visit the site. People are outside of the archery range with their bow
uncased they would be in violation of that ordinance and they could be cited. The other options
are to take a look at relocating the range. The challenge there is as you know as a commission
when you work with, you know people come up with ideas of let's add something new to our
park system. We really don't have a lot of open space land for new facilities. The one that the
neighbors mentioned was Lake Ann. That they thought Lake Ann could accommodate an
archery range and you know from my viewpoint I don't see a location. All of Lake Ann is
utilized for something. Even the woodland to the west is utilized for walking trails. There's not
just a lot of open free space land there. Some people talked about moving it to the river valley.
If you move it to the river valley where there's much more open space you would still have to
acquire property. Build a parking lot. Build other amenities to go along with that and if you get
down to that area,then you're just a half a mile from the Shakopee archery range is right there so
it really doesn't make sense to reinvest maybe a half a million dollars or more in an archery
range facility down in the river bottom when you have one just right next door. But nevertheless
we'll take a look at potential options of relocating the range if there are some available. And
then the third option would just simply be to close the range and discontinue that use within our
city's park system.
Kelly: Or fourth option would be to temporarily close it until we get things figured out.
Hoffman: Sure, yep. Well yep absolutely.
Kelly: Okay and we have some neighbors here. I'm not sure they all want to speak but I think
some of them would like to speak so please come up. Give us your name and your address and
then you can address the commission.
Stephen Jones: Hi. My name is Stephen Jones and I'm at 8260 West Lake Court so you're
familiar with this. Anybody in here not familiar with that? Okay. One of the things I heard you
say Cole or Chairman Kelly, is that how it's addressed? Was our neighbors have found that they
had bows and arrows in their yard or arrows in their yard. I watched every one of your faces and
everyone lit up like so my concern is huge because I don't want this in my back yard anymore
and I don't think anybody else in our neighborhood does. Nobody really said well these things
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
happen so the argument is okay well you can pull it and you can maybe discharge it by accident.
One accident is too many if it lands on my head. My children's head or anybody else walking
through the neighborhood. So that I can't accept an accidental pull because they forgot to shoot
down that way so if it's only 20 yards an indoor range is really nothing. I practice at an indoor
range and we have a 20, 40 yard deal. It's 10 bucks so that's not very convenient I know
because our's is free and that's great but this is 1 of 2 arrows that I've found in my 2 years of
living at West Lake Court that is a huge concern for me so I don't think it's the people that are
down there trying to do the right thing but I know there's people that are going to do the wrong
thing so let's say they moved on and they're now that hooligan is gone. Well there's just another
person waiting behind them that's just going to do the wrong thing. Now we're talking about a
target going over the top of it. It's still not like an area that you would walk into. Pay an
admission. You close the door. You're inside an archery range where it's patrolled because I
don't know how often you can patrol that unless you have a 24 hour camera there that I see
somebody make a mistake and then I can say well do you know who this person is. Now we're
trying to track them down and that's just not going to happen so I just, I like archery because I do
archery but I just don't like it landing in my back yard and I just don't think it's safe right there.
This new water treatment plant, there's a whole lot of open space there. Maybe you can
integrate an indoor type of thing there or an outdoor range there where it's just wetlands so that's
what I wanted to say and I really want to thank you guys for letting us,thanks for stopping out
today and thanks a lot of answering my emails promptly. I really appreciate that. I hope my
neighbors have something else to say or do you have questions.
Kelly: Yeah you said Steve right?
Stephen Jones: Stephen Jones.
Kelly: Yeah Stephen I don't believe you told them how far away your house is from the range.
Canon: Or can you give like a...
Stephen Jones: Yeah, okay sure. I'm probably the last target and then just a little bit beyond it
but from my house to the target, 100 yards.
Kelly: Are there a few trees in the way too?
Stephen Jones: Huh?
Kelly: Are there a few trees in the way?
Stephen Jones: There are a whole lot of trees in the way but my yard is, I've cleared out some
trees.
Kelly: They've got to go up and over the trees is what I'm getting at.
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
Stephen Jones: Well okay so here's the thing. My arrow was landed like this. Okay there's
been arrows that have landed like this but my wood pile in my back yard, the arrow was in like
this so for somebody to hey, let me just shoot through those trees because they might not know
you know. They probably don't know but I don't care. Now they know and I hope there's some
really bright orange meaningful signs in big letters that say this is a problem and it needs.
Truthfully I don't even think an archery range should be an open outdoor thing anyway. I don't
even know what city, I mean unless it's out in the country but Chanhassen isn't out in the
country anymore. It used to be when I was a kid. We never came out here. This was out there
but I don't know you can see it's kind of got me fired up and it's got a lot of my neighbors fired
up so we just want to get that over with and make this not be an issue anymore and make
something indoors so.
Kelly: So what are the busiest hours there would you say?
Stephen Jones: You see people there all the time. Morning, afternoon and night time. People go
there for lunch. They can go there on their breaks because there's a lot of businesses around
there. It's a really cool place to live but, and a really nice park but there's also kids and there's
also you know it's just, well if you've all been there. If you've never seen it just drive down
Powers. You can see it driving down the road and frankly I'm surprised nothing's ever landed in
Powers from there just by people getting crazy but I know that arrows can go that far so I'm
going to keep my eye open and I do want to every time,because I do that walk. I go down
through the path and I just kind of walk around just as an after dinner walk because I just like to
do that so whenever I see somebody down there I do address the issue. I say hey,there's a
neighborhood right there. If you see anybody doing anything crazy please let them know that
this could potentially just take this whole thing out of here which that's what I'm shaking for.
Kelly: Okay,thank you Steve.
Stephen Jones: Alright thanks.
James Duffey: James Duffey, 8241 West Lake Court. I live across the street and down a few
houses away from the range.
Kelly: I'm sorry I didn't catch your name.
James Duffey: James Duffey.
Kelly: Thank you.
James Duffey: And been a resident of Chanhassen almost 11 years now. I didn't even realize
there was an archery range there until last Monday. But from talking to Todd at the meeting, or
Commissioner Kelly. Chairman Kelly, Todd had suggested that it was possible that the reason
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
why we were getting these errant arrows was that somebody's drawing the bow up and
accidently letting or the trigger goes. If you look at the map the only way that that is possible
because that TV screen would be down range. I'm not a hunter. I'm not an archer but I know
you're supposed to aim at the target. The arrows they would have to be aiming perpendicular. I
also know that you're not supposed to, you're supposed to keep the arrow pointed down than let
go. Not do like Robin Hood in the movie so obviously there is people not practicing the proper
techniques. That the first issue. The second issue is we have 2 other archery ranges, outdoor
archery ranges in close proximity. Eden Prairie at Starring Lake. There's not houses for
hundreds of yards. The one down in Shakopee, if they miss an arrow it goes into the wetlands.
Granted this was developed or built 25 years ago right around the neighborhood is. There were
7,000 people in Chanhassen when our neighborhood was developed. We're almost 23,000. The
city has changed. The park system needs to change too. This isn't rural. This is a suburb. I
know people like to think of it as a city out in the country but it's not. We've got at least a dozen
kids that are small that would not be looking up. They're barely able to look forward. You
know a lot of toddlers. A lot of kids third grade and below. Heaven forbid on your watch one of
those arrows strikes one of those kids. I think you need to do, I think you know what you need
to do. I think it's, we're just as a neighborhood I think we're expecting you to either temporarily
close this park, or this archery range until you can come up with a solution or close it
permanently or come up with a better alternative because the fact that you have a very busy
street with a lot of businesses that have moved in over the last few years just beyond the targets
and then you have a neighborhood that obviously has been getting hit. One neighbor today
mentioned that he's lived there for 15 years and he's picked up at least a dozen arrows over the
years so I mean this is not just an isolated incident. That's all I have to say. Thank you for your
time.
Kelly: Thank you James.
Linda Boerboom: My name is Linda Boerboom and I live at 8261 West Lake Court. I live
across the street from Stephen. I didn't bring my arrow. It's in my garage but I could bring it. It
was in my front yard straight up and down and when I saw it there first I was like well who's
doing that you know. I didn't put it together with the archery range that's on the other side of the
street,back behind trees that are so many years old. I've lived in the neighborhood since 1996 so
20 years. The neighborhood has changed. We have a lot of little children and we have a lot of
adults so what we're looking at here right now is the safety preciousness of our lives because as
these guys have mentioned the neighborhood is, it was built back in, 25 years ago but technology
has changed with the bows and arrows. I'm not an archer person so the technology's changed so
they're a lot more powerful and for an arrow to come up over those trees and to come into my
yard how it did just tells me that there's a lot of power behind it and if there's that much power
what's it going to do to a young child, a middle aged child, or an adult. And I do hope that that
range is closed just for the safety. Yes maybe some people will get upset over it but they would,
I would rather them be upset and know that no lives were lost or somebody be harmed in that
interim why you guys make decisions. I want to thank you Chairperson Kelly and Mr. Hoffman
for coming today. That was very thoughtful and very eye opening for me as to the City coming
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
to do what, to protect us as a neighborhood and I understand that a lot of people use that range
early in the morning and in the afternoon. That's what you guys, when no action is taken put us
in that we don't live safely. If that many people are using that archery place that our lives are at
risk when they're down there using that so I want to thank you.
Kelly: Linda? You didn't tell us how far your house was from the.
Linda Boerboom: Oh I'm not very good at distances so.
Kelly: But you're further away than Stephen right?
Linda Boerboom: I'm farther away. I live across the street from him and it was way up into my
yard. Almost to, way up on the knoll. It wasn't like just inside the yard. It was way up. And I
would be concerned that it could go through our windows. It could go through our cars. All the
different things.
Audience: The lots in our neighborhood, on our street are about roughly 275 to 290 feet deep so
then you also have the street and then it was probably about 20 feet on her property so I mean do
the math. That's well over 100 yards just to the back of Stephen's property line so, and I'm not
sure how much, where the property line falls on the woods before the archery range.
Kelly: Thank you.
Linda Boerboom: So thank you so much.
Kelly: So Todd, obviously it's going to take some time to sort it out. In the meantime we need
to do something and the signs are one thing. Can we limit the hours and hire somebody to
monitor that place while we're trying to figure this out?
Hoffman: The commission can make any recommendation and we'll be happy to comply.
That's up to you to make a recommendation.
Kelly: I look at it right now there's 2 options because the long term solution isn't going to
happen for at least a month or two and so for the short term I think we either temporarily close it
or if we keep it open we limit the hours and we hire somebody to monitor it so that people are
doing what they're supposed to do. And then the signs have to go up and as Todd said they'll go
up in the next few days but and there's got to be big penalties for somebody going there during
non hours and we have to have, you know we're going to have to ask the police just to keep an
eye on it when they drive through because as long it's there people are going to try and get on it
regardless of the hours is my guess so. And even if we close it people are going to try and get on
it. That's why I guess I'd prefer to have a monitor there and have it open because then at least
we know what's going on and then people know they can go there but it's going to be limited
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
until we get a solution. Those are my two thoughts. I don't know what anybody else's thoughts
are at this time.
Canon: I guess my thought is yeah, it's a good topic and I'm looking forward to seeing what
staff puts together as far as recommendations here for the next meeting. Until then what would
be the effort to remove the targets for the time being?
Hoffman: Takes 2 hours.
Canon: Maybe that's the better alternative Cole is rather than hiring somebody if we're going to
close it,just remove the targets. Put up a sign for it closed for the time being and then next
month, I mean we're not in any post archery season quite yet so we might inconvenience some
people but we've got some neighbors here too that it's inconveniencing pretty well too so with
that said maybe that would be an alternative is just to close it down and remove the targets for
the month and put up a sign until the commission has time to talk about it and get some
recommendations from staff on what some alternatives might be.
Scharfenberg: Todd when, in terms of the signage and that, when would that be put up?
Hoffman: There's two things going on here. If you close it there's just going to be signage that
it's closed. If you don't close it and you just want to indicate that there's an issue that can go up
tomorrow or the next day.
Thunberg: I wouldn't be against closing it temporarily. Obviously one for safety and while it's
closed, if it was closed for the month you would potentially start to hear the other side of the
story depending on if it's a large group of people using it or if it's a small group using it
frequently right. But if it was closed and you started hearing comments that would help
determine if we wanted to make an investment on an enclosed place or some sort of solution to
know, it's kind of like when we talk about parks and tennis courts. People come and say I want
to use this or not and we try to gauge it by usage. If it was temporarily closed and nobody
complained then you start to learn something about what kind of investment the City would look
at for a longer term solution as well.
Scharfenberg: Well the other thing to you know consider is this park has been there, this archery
range has been there for a number of years and this is the first we're hearing about this of any
incidents happening so something like that I understand the safety issues and that. You know
closing it temporarily would be okay. I'm okay with signage being put up just to notify the
people of the problem and monitor it for the next 30 to 60 days to see what happens and see if
this ends and there's nothing to it and in the meantime the City studies you know some options
for us long term.
Hoffman: It's always good to think forward and closing it and taking a look at the options, if the
public or the commission is not going to trust that people are going to do the right thing, then
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
you're really just closing the facility. Because it's an outdoor facility people enjoy having an
outdoor archery range and so if your conclusion is going to be that this is not an appropriate
place for an archery range we're really looking at a long term closure. A complete closure for
good and then you know if the City wants to invest in an archery range, an outdoor archery range
it's going to have to be in some other location. And so you know always want to be thinking
forward. Indoor archery ranges are easy to, we have an indoor gun range. Brand new indoor
gun range. You know you monitor it. It's inside so the option here to make this a viable archery
range location and to mitigate the concerns that we have is to build that enclosure but if you're
not going to trust, if this body's not going to support that, if the public's not going to support that
you know there's a whole other side of, if we start down this discussion and all of the people that
utilize the facility are going to come and they're going to join the conversation as well and so I
don't mind closing that. Closing it temporarily and starting that conversation but we just have to
go into that knowing what are the viable options that we're going to propose as a public body to
the users of the facility and to the neighbors.
Canon: Well saying that to get a little bit more specific, sorry. But then that's what I'm looking
forward to is that I'd like to see a better place for it. For the residents. I'm an avid bow hunter
and I have a little bit of a heartache when, even though you're, you know your bow isn't
necessarily cased. You're walking through a park with kids with ultimately it's a weapon and
that could give an uneasy feeling too to our park system and make people look twice too so when
we bring up Shakopee where it's secluded. By itself. Lakeville where I grew up it's secluded
out in a park back in the trees where there's no residents around. Maybe it is time that since this
has got brought up,that's what I was thinking maybe if we just need to find a new place for it
and something on my mind was you know something with a backstop around the middle of
nowhere where like 212 with that noise wall up against there so you're only shooting that way or
down in the Pioneer corridor or something like that which is something that popped up in my
head but in a park system maybe in this day and age where we're at now with what's going on
and I hate to pull all that in but it's relevant. I think we need to find maybe a new spot for it.
Echternacht: Yeah I'd recommend that we at least close it for the time being temporarily and
come up with a solution as far as if we're going to move it, where to would be my
recommendation.
Kelly: Does somebody want to float a motion or is there other comments or thoughts?
Hougham: I make a motion that we temporarily close the archery range due to the concerns of
the neighbors and discuss other possibilities and options for the archery range. Either a different
location or just further the conversation about the archery range at the current location.
Kelly: So we have a motion to temporarily close the archery range. Is there a second?
Thunberg: Second.
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Park and Recreation Commission—June 28, 2016
Kelly: And there's a second.
Hougham moved,Thunberg seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
temporarily close the archery range at Lake Susan Park. All voted in favor except for
Commissioner Scharfenberg who abstained, and the motion carried with a vote of 6 to 0
with 1 abstention.
Kelly: Okay Todd moving onto park and trail maintenance report.
Hoffman: Thank you Chair Kelly,members of the commission. So before we move on, so the
archery range will be closed tomorrow and we'll post signs there. That it's closed and we'll
probably put up a fence to stop people from entering that area so they don't set up targets of their
own and we'll put it on our website that it's closed. The study will change a little bit. We won't
necessarily look at designs. We'll just talk about that there could be a potential design to make a
tunnel type situation where you're shooting down range and then we'll publicize that discussion
for the July meeting so then both the neighbors and the people that utilize the facility will be here
and they will talk about what are the distances to the properties and then at that point you'll
either be talking about a recommendation. Staff may present a recommendation. A
conversation continue on even after that. We may not have all the information that we'll need at
that time in a month. It doesn't really matter. The archery range will be closed so we can take
additional time after that. We're probably not in the business of being in an indoor archery range
business. We currently don't have the land I believe for an outdoor archery range other than
Lake Ann or Lake Susan. That piece of property is probably the most secluded piece of property
that we have in our current park system land holdings and so we'll talk about that as options.
You'll hear from the people that utilize it and then the conversation will continue on so
appreciate you taking up the issue tonight. I don't think there's any precedent tonight. If you
were going to close you know this type of thing, we'll talk to the City Council. I'll inform the
City Manager tomorrow. I don't think we need a City Council action on this to close the archery
range and so I think everybody's going to allow the Park and Recreation Commission to do that,
at least on a temporary basis for these safety concerns. Don't know what the protocol is
completely for shutting down a public archery range but I know we'll continue on the
conversation at future meetings and then the City Council would take action, final action if the
archery range was eliminated from the park master plan for Lake Susan. That would be the final
action.
Kelly: Todd when we bring it up again I'd also like to hear the City Attorney's opinion on the
liability issues.
Hoffman: Yep.
Thunberg: Todd have we ever monitored that to see usage similar to when we have ice rinks and
warming houses and things like that? Do we have, we've never looked at that?
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
they were absent for one year but Mitch Chepokas is where it all started and he was a
Chanhassen resident so they're happy to be back. To find out more just go to Pinky Swear
Foundation.org and you'll find out more about the organization. We're glad to have them back
in Chan.
Kelly: Thank you Todd.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS. None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Carron moved, Scharfenberg seconded to approve the
verbatim and summary Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated
July 26,2016 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a
vote of 6 to 0.
RECOMMENDATION TO CLOSE LAKE SUSAN PARK ARCHERY RANGE.
Kelly: Moving right along and we have a lot of people here for the next item on our agenda
which is the recommendation from staff to permanently close Lake Susan Park archery range.
Todd would you like to speak to that please.
Hoffman: Glad to. Thank you Chairman Kelly, members of the commission and audience
members as well. Tonight we'll have staff comments then we'll answer any questions from the
commission. They'll have a chance to discuss what's going on. You'll have a chance to get up
and address the commission and then they'll finish their discussion after that. So the City of
Chanhassen outdoor archery range is located at Lake Susan Park. 903 Lake Drive East. It was
closed on June 30, 2016 to allow for a view and public comment concerning the safe operation of
the facility. The archery range has been in place for approximately 25 years. The arrows that
were reported this past spring were the first that were reported, at least reported off the property
of Lake Susan Park and there is some discussion or speculation or reports that there may have
been others found in previous years but those aren't substantiated, at least in this year. So we
were contacted in June 20th by a resident on West Side Court reported discovering an arrow on
their property. There was also another report of an arrow in a front yard across the street and so
the City obviously we're concerned about that. The neighborhood was concerned about the
discovery of these arrows and so we immediately called a meeting. We met with the
neighborhood on Tuesday evening, June 28th to discuss the archery range and then that was a
meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting night if you recall back in June. Some
of the neighbors came here to your meeting that evening and discussed this during visitor
presentations and then the commission took the action at that time to at least temporarily shut the
archery range down to allow time to review what was going on at Lake Susan with the archery
range and if we could change the configuration or change how the facility is utilized. So we did
take a look at a study primarily,just taking a look at options. Can we change the signage that is
there? That would be one option. Could we build to add more rules or instructions about how to
safely use the archery range? Is our shelter, some type of a shelter or a baffle system that could
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
be built to enclose the archery range at least at some level? Is there a spot to move the archery
range to some place that we currently own? And so those are the kind of options that we were
taking a look at. The Archery Trade Association has some very good recommendations on
facilities. How to improve them. How to make them you know so they're safer to operate. But
primarily what we were focusing on is this enclosure structure but then through the discovery
process this is in a floodplain and so in a floodplain you can't pursue construction of a permanent
type of a facility so you can't build a shelter over the top. Some people would be facility with
the Eden Prairie archery range at Starring Lake Park and that's an enclosed structure. Some
baffled walls. Some draping over the top but you could not by floodplain regulations, zoning
regulations construct that kind of facility at this location. So we dismissed that. You know
there's an option just to put up signage and reopen the park. It's been there for 25 years but with
these arrows being found off the property, at least reported being found off the property we
didn't think that was a good option. Relocation. Lots of ideas about you know could this be
moved to Lake Ann? Is there another location and we just really, if you study the park system
and you study what we have here, this is a fairly remote site in a community park setting.
Inbetween the creek and the pond and so replicating that someplace else we just currently don't
have real estate for that. The primary location people are focusing on is the woodlands to the
west of Lake Ann Park and that woodlands is currently used as a woods and as a walking trail
and so you would have to modify that. Cut down some pretty extensive tree cover in that forest
which is in really a high quality forest. And take out the walking trail and Lake Ann Park
frankly is already too busy and so adding another large facility into that park setting just would
not be the best choice I don't think. There is currently an archery range that exists in Shakopee.
It's just on our side of the river. You go over the new bridge and you take a left at the parking
lot to the boat access. You curve down underneath the bridge and so that's about 4 miles away.
And so when we talk about should we relocate this,well one of the options would be to buy land
in the more remote part of Chanhassen is southern Chanhassen so it really doesn't make a lot of
sense if you're going to be a mile or two away from that site to acquire land. Develop
infrastructure. Roadways. Parking lots. You would just as soon you know send people to the
Shakopee archery range which it does flood on occasion because it is as well in some type of a
floodplain setting. It's the old ballfield setting for those that have been around a while on 169
there so that's where that is located. So unless we find another alternative there's been lots of
input from the archery group. From counselors. If there is an option that is available people
would like to see it potentially at least considered at this site to keep it open. We're talking about
the sole outdoor archery range in our public park system. Obviously if we had two and we had
to close one that wouldn't be as significant of an issue but in this case we only have one we're
back at the park commission to listen to neighbors and listen to the people that utilize the facility.
See if we can come up with an option but unless some other option is available to the, or arrived
at by the Park and Recreation Commission it's our recommendation that you do recommend we
permanently close the facility. Take the current targets that are there. Donate them to the
Shakopee archery range and then install a pedestrian trail at that location instead of the current
archery facility. So I think everyone has the report that has been prepared. If you have any
questions we'd be happy to answer those and then we're looking forward to hearing from the
audience as well.
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
Kelly: Thank you Todd. I have a question about the floodplain. And we don't have these pages
marked but it said any new structure, temporary or permanent would impede the flow of water
and likely not be permitted number 5 and when I go to number 5 that's a Chanhassen City Code.
Hoffman: Correct.
Kelly: Correct. So is that something that could be changed? Or do we also.
Hoffman: No.
Kelly: It's in a floodplain is that something we'd have to go to other government authorities to
get that changed.
Hoffman: Yeah the watershed district would not approve that so it's not something that we
could modify to put a permanent structure there.
Kelly: Okay questions for Todd?
Carron: What about the installation of a temporary structure for season only?
Hoffman: That's something that, Terry Jeffery our Water Resources Coordinator and when we
sat down and discussed this, some type of a temporary facility would not be an issue. You know
you could put a temporary structure there and then remove it so you could bring it in in the
spring and then utilize it and then remove it in the fall. That would be something that would be
permitted within that floodplain. It's just a facility at that point.
Carron: So looking around and you brought up Starring Lake, they have like a shelter basically
that you shoot from underneath but it's a permanent roofed shelter. Would an idea of a
temporary shelter that could be easily installed and brought out something like a batting cage that
would encompass the entire shooting standing area to extend 12 foot down range and maybe a 10
foot high with a drop in the front to keep arrows from going up and cover that with a fabric of
some sort that's capable of deadening the arrows. Not necessarily a hard structure but something
that's easily to remove and replace so that it won't interfere with the floodplains and the flow but
yet still encompass the entire shooting area and 12 foot down the range to make sure that the
funnel is going straight forward. Would that be permissible do you think?
Hoffman: As far as, we would have to take a look at the floodplain but an archery range is
allowed in a floodplain. That would be a part of the facility but it would be temporary so
permanent structures that would impede. This thing if it would flood it would be picked up and
moved downstream so I don't think that that would be the same as a permanent structure but we
would want to check on that. Anything temporary in a floodplain as far as I can tell by the
zoning code would be permitted.
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
Canon: Well correct me if I'm wrong that the shooting areas are pretty temporary too. I mean
they're not really permanent structures so it'd be somewhat similar to that correct?
Hoffman: Correct.
Canon: Okay.
Kelly: Todd if we had some type of a temporary structure two questions. What kind of costs are
we looking at(a) and (b), could it be constructed in such a way that a stray arrow would be
caught inside the structure and not go out to the neighborhood?
Hoffman: So if you've looked through a baseball catalog that's about what we're talking about.
At least by your description as a covered batting cage. Large enough to have 4 shooting lanes
inside of it. I've not looked at costs for that but you know somewhere$10,000 dollars plus or
minus would probably the cost. It would be a catalog item so you could purchase this. Modify it
for this type of an application and then the archers would be underneath it shooting out from
within that structure. But we would have to take a look at what those costs would be.
Boettcher: You said it was possibly 4 shooting lanes?
Hoffman: That's what's currently there. Two 20 yards, a 30 yard and a 40 yard target.
Boettcher: That's current okay.
Kelly: Other questions for Todd?
Hougham: Are there other archery ranges that have temporary structures out there?
Hoffman: Not that I'm aware of but.
Kelly: Do we have any visitors that would like to get up and talk about the archery range?
Anybody who wants to come up, everybody's allowed to come up. Please come up, give us your
name and your address and then you can go ahead and address us.
Stephen Jones: Hi,my name is Stephen Jones. I'm at 8260 West Lake Court and I'm one of the
persons who found an arrow in their yard. It wasn't just laying in my yard. It was drove in a
wood pile. You're supposed to shoot that way and it was shot that way. Well off to the south I
guess if we're going to define it. I did just hear if, about a stray arrow being caught in the net.
Well you can shoot a stray arrow from outside the structure, temporary or permanent so I want to
keep the archery range because I like to shoot archery myself quite a bit. There's already a
tunnel that goes underneath Powers so if you just make that walk path. Go right to the tunnel
that goes under Powers. You mentioned the woods right there that it's a pretty healthy woods. I
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
get that. Perfect spot. Two big hills. A nice little channel right down the middle. And there's
nothing behind it so you can still have your archery range. It's just we're not going to have
arrows landing in people's yards so if there's anybody in here who doesn't mind an arrow
landing in their yard, show me your hand or speak up once I'm finished so I'm voting to get the
archery range here. Just it's got to be in a safer place because there's problematic people that
can do the wrong type of thing. Whether it's an error or whether it's deliberate, it's just, it can't
happen in a neighborhood. And that's it, thanks.
Kelly: Thank you Stephen. Anybody else like to get up and talk? Just go ahead, yep. Come on
up.
Verdell Borth: I'm a long time archer. Shooting archery since early 60's.
Kelly: Could we have your name and address and then you can go ahead.
Verdell Borth: Verdell Borth. That's V-e-r-d-e-1-1 and it's B-o-r-t-h. I live at 202 West 78th
Street in Chanhassen.
Kelly: Thank you.
Verdell Borth: Intersection of 101 and West 78t. And I'm also familiar with the, very familiar
with the archery range over at Starring Park over in Eden Prairie and I'd like to have that, an
archery range of that type considered a little bit further and I did bring some materials for the
commission with some pictures. And like was mentioned an archery range in Chanhassen's been
in operation for 25 years. I've shot there for about 19. I've never seen that area with the, where
the targets are located flooded. One of the reasons that it's cited as the Starring Lake archery
range or that type wasn't considered was that it would impede the flow of water through the
archery range. Looking at the, at the archery range in Eden Prairie I don't see that that'd be
possible. The water went right through that thing and anything similar to that it would run right
through it. The only possible objection I think is probably drilling holes for the pole. The pole
sections for installation of the baffle system but as you can see from the pictures in that
illustration, the sides of that archery range are completely open. If it wasn't built completely
down to the ground the water would run right through it as well. In addition it has a sand base
and gravel base to it so the city wouldn't even have to mow the grass which would be another
advantage and there's no electricity installed. It's totally contained so it could even operate on a
12 month basis. The problem with the current archery range, if you shoot out there in the winter
time you're likely to lose your arrows in the snow. So I'd like, you know the staff stated that
they did some studies on it but I didn't see,but you mentioned tonight that he did consider the
Starring Lake archery range but I'm also familiar with, a little bit familiar with codes that are not
always that hard and fast and without further inquiry I wouldn't automatically say that they, that
you couldn't get a permit to build at least a part of that type of an archery range. Further I don't
know that you need to build the entire baffle system for the arrow flight all the way down range
to the target. All that would be necessary would be a roof to restrict shooting arrows up above
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
the plane and that's pretty much accomplished by the shelter. Any kind of a roof over the
shooting lane so I'd hate to see the archery range disappear completely just because all
alternatives haven't been considered and so that's the reason I brought, I know it's difficult to
describe that baffle system unless you've seen it and I think the pictures that I've brought along
with me help with that but I think the most important part is a structure right over or restricting
right by the shooting lane to prevent shooting upward. I think what they have at Eden Prairie
they've got these conveyor belt sections all the way across all the way down to shooting area. I
don't know that, I didn't think an arrow could get out actually of that, in the first couple of feet
of that. Incidentally on the other side of that archery range is the dog park so all these years
they've been operating a dog park on the end of, on the far side of the shooting range so, and that
sort of testifies to the safety also of that particular archery range design. I also spoke this
morning to Michelle Asig with the Archery Trade Association and she had seen a notice in the
paper but I don't know, she hadn't spoken with anyone else but I'm also, I'm also a biker so I
would like to see a bike trail established, you know close that section because I bike all the way
down and then back around to get to that tunnel that he's talking about so but not at the expense
of the archery range. And so I, I would like, I sort of drafted up a proposed motion as well.
Counter motion to consider possibly a structure on the shooting lane as an alternative to the full
baffle system so, and I'd like staff to consider that and the commissioners to consider that
possibility as well. Thank you very much.
Kelly: Thank you Verdell and thank you for the illustrations.
Verdell Borth: Thank you.
Kelly: Anybody else like to get up.
Dean Stanton: Yeah I'd like to. Hi my name is Dean Stanton. I live at 500 Bighorn Drive. I've
used the archery range for about 5-6 years and looking at that photo of where the arrow came I
kind of, I don't think it was a dry fire or a misfire because anybody that shoots archery, if that's
the target you draw back either down,up. Nobody draws over here and the moves their feet.
That's not how you shoot archery so to me it's probably kids. Vandals. Somebody that
shouldn't be there and nobody wants an arrow in their back yard but you can't control certain
vandals and things but nobody, I don't think any good archer is going to draw like this and then
move their feet like this. Anybody that shoots archery I'd like to hear you dispute that because
I've never seen anybody do that at a range anywhere. You're always pointing at the target so if
that arrow was shot at a 90 degree range,then that shows to me it's probably kids that shouldn't
be there. What I would suggest another possible solution would be have a minimum age of 21
unless you're with an adult and you could sink 3 telephone poles. Have a steel cable at the top.
Raise up a canvas or some kind of a tarp on the one side so if you're shooting like this, even if
you go like this you'd almost have to go straight up. You wouldn't have to build a full structure.
Sink 3 poles. Raise it up during the archery season. During the winter drop it. It'd be cost
effective. I mean you can't stop somebody that's gonna break the law. I mean anybody could
take an arrow out and shoot it anywhere and you can't stop that. If it's been open 25 years and
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
we've had 1 or 2 cases of this, to me it's somebody that shouldn't be there. Bad people.
Whatever you want to call them. Vandals, whatever. You can never stop that 100 percent but
you know you can't stop getting hit by a car either but I mean you're going to destroy a facility
that a lot of people are using for a couple cases. And yeah it's not right but is there a low cost
way to give some protection and you know maybe you raise the age limit. Keep the teenagers
and kids out of there. I can't imagine any good archer is going to go in like this and then shoot
this way. Those kids were getting rid of some bad arrows or something. I don't know what the
arrows looked like. If it was shorter arrow that a kid would shoot or if it was a full sized or what.
I didn't see the arrow but that would be my solution to it so thank you.
Kelly: Thank you Dean.
Linda Boerboom: My name is Linda Boerboom. I live at 8261 West Lake Court and I took
archery in college which was many,many years ago and enjoyed the sport. I don't,my home
does not,back yard does not buffer up against the archery range. I'm the one that lives across
the street that had the arrow go in the front yard and that has to be a pretty powerful situation to
have it come over those trees into my front yard. Probably 10 feet away from my house. Not
laying on the ground. Pointed straight up and down and that's scary. I have children and pets
and I live in a neighborhood that has children. Parents. Families and pets. Whether it's a
situation where some young person shooting their bow and arrow just to fool around, if the range
isn't there that won't be an option. They'll go wherever the range is at and they can shoot their
arrows right, left, straight,backwards, however they want to do it. It's a danger to our
neighborhood and that's to me what's important. I don't like to see or hear that a sport or an area
that's been developed over the years and enjoyed by many have to be close but if it's a safety
concern I would err on the side of safety and figure out another option for that. I'm sure sir you
wouldn't want an arrow in your front yard.
Dean Stanton: No absolutely not but you have a better chance of getting hit by a car.
Linda Boerboom: I don't even want to get hit by a car. Then my option is why have a place
there that puts us in danger.
Dean Stanton: Was the archery range there when you first moved out?
Linda Boerboom: I have lived there since 1996 and I know that these are not the only 2
incidences. These are the only 2 incidences that are,been brought forward. Whether they have
over the past year however, my grandson told me after we had this first meeting, he found an
arrow in my front yard a couple years ago but he said he just didn't know what to think of it and
he just,he didn't think much of it and my arrow is in my car right now. I call it my arrow so I
look at this as an opportunity not to take away from this sport for Chanhassen but to find
alternatives and I heard what you said Mr. Todd in regards to like a batting cage and putting it up
just during the summer. That doesn't stop anyone from going during the winter months or any
other time. My life,my family, the neighborhood is still at risk because it's still in inexistence so
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
with that I'm sure this council will come up with a good solution that will work for everyone.
Thank you.
Kelly: Thank you Linda.
Carron: Todd can I have a quick clarification? Do the bales that the targets stay up during the
winter months?
Hoffman: The container it does itself. The bales go away.
Canon: They don't, okay. Thank you.
Emily Mattran: Hello. My name is Emily Mattran. I live at 8210 West Lake Court and have
lived there since 1989 and yes, when I looked there, there were no roads into there. Lake Susan
Park existed but there were not any roads off of Powers. I have no issue with the sport of
archery. I am here because I am concerned about public safety. I think if one arrow had even
broken a window in one of those houses we probably would not be having this discussion, let
alone a pet or a human being. We wouldn't say well it's only been 2 people that got hit. That's
not enough in 25 years. I don't think that we would be approaching this as well maybe it should
still be open and I don't know enough about archery ranges of what,how often are there houses
that close to the archery range. If that hill wasn't there and was wooded that distance where you
can see houses, I'm not sure when I hear descriptions of Starring Lake or Shakopee that there
are, that there are houses that close to an existing archery range. So I'm concerned about safety.
Bows are very, I brought an article that I had in the Star Tribune about an archery contest and the
power of modern day bows and it says in here, an archer says it's a 100 yard challenge but I
draw back only 60 pounds. 15 or 20 years ago you needed a 70 pound bow to get enough kinetic
energy to harvest game. With the evolution of archery equipment that's no longer necessary so
things have changed in what people are showing up with at that range over time too. Of how far
an errant arrow could go so that's my concern. I also trust that you will listen to all the concerns
but mine is a public safety continuing issue and would prefer to have that opportunity elsewhere
than that close to a neighborhood. Thank you. And I will submit this to the public record.
Kelly: Thank you Emily.
Diana Withers: My name is Diana Withers and if I am not taking the time of any actual
Chanhassen members, I am an Eden Prairie resident. However I do most of my shopping in
Chanhassen because the taxes are lower and the stores are better. I also am a certified archery
coach. For 4H. For the Boy Scouts of America. For the national archery in the schools program
and I've had some Chanhassen students in my program. I am coming here with my daughter
who shoots archery through the Junior Olympic Archery Development program to speak on the
fact that safety is the number one thing we teach our students. And safety is the number one
thing we teach our parents so when I read about a neighborhood that is concerned about the
safety of their children, then I do feel concerned that those who practice the sport of archery,
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
whether they are doing so as trained persons or people who are doing it as a habit or just a
vocation are not making sure that not only they are following the rules,that the people that they
are with are following the rules. I will say that it is very unlikely for an arrow to be shot 100
yards and to land straight up and down in the ground where a person has to pull it out only
because physics will cause that arrow to fall flat more than likely. It is very difficult to shoot an
arrow at 100 yards. You have to be very strong even with advances in bow technology. And as
the gentleman earlier stated to shoot at a 90 degree angle from the actual targets shows an intent
to be delinquent. Safety again is a number one concern for anybody who is trained as a leader in
this sport and the idea of a safety curtain strikes a cord with me because in the national archery in
schools program we use a safety curtain because we are inside gymnasiums where we don't have
a soft backdrop so if a student misses the target the curtain is there to protect the concrete wall
that is usually behind the target and to prevent the arrow from getting damaged. I appreciate the
gentleman that brought the pictures of Starring Lake range. We have spent a number of hours
there and one thing that you'll notice in addition to the tall walls is the chainlink fence between
those walls. What you can't see in these pictures, what you cannot see in these pictures is there's
a pathway on this side of the grass that leads to the dog park. There is a pathway on the other
side of the range that provides the handicap access to that range so there are people that are
walking 20 yards from the shooting range but because of the tall walls,because of the curtains
that are going across, arrows are highly unlikely to leave that range and these chainlink fences
are there to prevent errant people from walking onto the range unaware that the arrows are there.
So there is safety all around in this range. When we shoot indoors we make sure that all the
doors to the gymnasium that might allow somebody to walk into the path of the shooting range
are locked with signs that say do not enter. The idea of a safety curtain that would be able to be
put up seasonally and then taken down out of season is a phenomenal idea because not only does
it prevent the possibility of an arrow, even by accident going off. It could also help prevent
anybody who might be coming onto that archery range from another direction because we want
to make sure the people who are coming from any nearby paths or are off the path and don't
realize that there's a range there can't accidentally walk down range in front of an arrow. An
archer that is in the process of shooting. So again I do feel for the people that have found the
arrows in their yards. I question whether or not they actually came from somebody on the range
because of the physics that would be involved for it but that's not what we're here to discuss.
We're not here to discuss how they got there. The perception of archery as a dangerous sport is
something that hurts me because of the hours that I spend training children to be safe. Because
of the hours of training that I have taken to make sure that I never have to call a parent and say,
there's been a problem. We need to go to the emergency room. And I never want to see an
archery range shut down. As was mentioned earlier the Shakopee range is perhaps over 4 miles
from here. Four miles at 5:00 in the afternoon is a long distance. And when you consider that
Carver County Parks charge for a parent to attend with their child even if the parent is not
shooting, that is a cost consideration for some parents. The fact that there are only 3 to 4 outdoor
ranges within a short distance of this area with archery being one of the fastest growing sports
among our young people means that the access to those ranges is extremely limited during high
demand seasons so to shut down a range and donate the targets to Shakopee is to reduce the
accessibility of archery ranges to our community by 25 percent which only puts more strain on
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those ranges and when you consider that Junior Olympic Archery is a fast growing sport as well
that it needs facilities, you're also now reducing the opportunity for that sport to grow in the
southwest metro. My daughter and I currently drive an hour each way to go to Coon Rapids in
order to practice at the outdoor facility at Bunker Hills because that's the only facility that has a
long enough range for her to practice at 50 meters. And our 4H program for Carver County, we
have to drive to New Germany for practice. We have to drive to Waconia for practice because
there's so much competition. The Eden Prairie range is often in use by archery classes which is
fantastic but it reduces the accessibility to the general public. So to reduce archery ranges in the
southwest metro by 25 percent because some delinquence perhaps intentionally did this is going
to be a huge hit to the archery community and to the sport in general. And as a member of the
shooting sports community I ask you to consider other alternatives such as the batting cage
option or some sort of other facility that allows you to keep this range open.
Kelly: Thank you Diana.
Diana Withers: Thank you.
Kari Davis: Hi, I'm Kari Davis. My address is 8200 West Lake Court. I'm not an archer
myself. I do live on West Lake Court as I just told you and I was at the neighborhood meeting
and mostly I'm here to share a little bit more information from the content of that meeting. And
I want to say that I appreciate the city staff coming out so quickly and being as responsive as
they have been in this situation. Just to clarify a little bit,there have been more than 2 arrows
found in yards. Some of the other folks that were at the neighborhood meeting did share that
with us. Myself personally I am not an archer however we did have a group of teenage girl
scouts from our girl scout troop out to the archery range with a trainer and we really had a good
experience there. I appreciate archery as a sport. At our neighborhood meeting those who could
show up were I don't know, there were probably a dozen or 16 of us there I would say. There
were at least 3 or 4 gentlemen that were bow hunters so we appreciate the sport and we know it
is a growing sport. But I have to say that I also come down on the side of safety first. Some of
the conversation was about the priority of safety, mostly we have a lot of kids and we have a lot
of young kids and they spend a lot of hours playing outside. There also obviously are concerns
not only not only about our children but about the adults in the neighborhood and about vehicles
in the neighborhood. The other big thing is that we feel it's not just a concern on West Lake
Court but also Powers Boulevard is very busy with a lot of bicyclists and a lot of walkers and a
big thing that I learned at our neighborhood meeting, one young man attended our neighborhood
and he's in college now but he lives in a neighborhood and he told. He's an active archer and he
explained the technology to us and how much more powerful it is now and how, and he is a big
strapping guy. He's an athlete and he talked about how at a certain point after shooting he has to
just stop and that he's very disciplined about it because you can't control you know that strong
bow I guess and the power from that and how he stops himself because he doesn't want to have
errant bows so it might not just be vandals. It might be people who just you know make a
mistake in their sport. I don't know. But anyway the power of the equipment is a concern not
only for West Lake Court but also for Powers Boulevard as well. And for me as well the priority
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is public safety. And I am disappointed at the thought that we might have to move an archery
facility but I do believe that the priority has to be public safety and I hope that we could find a
more safe place. I also agree that you know the safety curtains sound great but I do believe if the
archery range is still there then archers good and bad practicers will come to that area. Thank
you for listening to my comments.
Kelly: Thank you Kari.
Anthony Rockwell: Hi, Anthony Rockwell, 8537 Powers Place. I've been shooting there for
about 5 years. I guess I'm a proponent of keeping it. You can't throw the baby out with the bath
water. I understand that there's been some situations that arrows show up, whether they come
from the range or not but I genuinely believe if enough heads come together that you can come
up with a solution that's viable that works for everybody. I guess I would say to keep the range
there, whether that's putting up sides or a roof. There are ways when you go to Shakopee. I
tried to go to Shakopee 2 days ago and the entire road was shut down. I had to turn around and
go home so thanks for that. I'm a deer hunter too and if I don't get to practice I can wound deer
and so that's the other reason why I go there. I shoot there 4 to 5 times a week. I'm there a lot.
I live a half mile away. And it's also a community thing. There's a lot of people there I've
never seen in the 5 years I've been shooting there someone purposely or even jokingly decide to
shoot an arrow over the trees being that they're anywhere from $15 to $20 an arrow. Now if you
say well you know kids mom will just buy them a new set of arrows, I don't believe that. I think
you should start the lowest level of protection for the community which would be a sign saying
21 and above. Intermediate to advance archers. Something of that nature because I believe that
people are inherently good. They will follow directions and say oh wow, I can't shoot there
anymore. I'm only 18. Alright and they leave. I think they'll do that. Then also have best
practices where you don't draw your bow back and drop down. Where you pull back. Bows are
more stronger, of course but they're also measurably more accurate. I mean they're putting
arrows in a 4 inch square at 40 yards easily now so if you have any idea about archery, accuracy
becomes stronger and actually better with more powerful bows. And I guess that's about it.
Thank you. Let's make sure we really look at every opportunity before we throw the baby out
with the bath water. That's really important to us I think as archers. Thank you guys.
Kelly: Thank you Anthony.
Jeff Lobitz: Hi, excuse me. My name is Jeff Lobitz I'm actually from Watertown to the west.
Highway 25. I've been shooting there for probably 3-4 years. Met,recognize a few guys from
in here. I also shot, well I just got back from a mountain hunt in Nevada so I was actually trying
to practice for that and I went to Shakopee like twice. No thanks. It's full. It's a pain to get
there. You know the Susan one is,when I found it I used to shoot at Carver Park. I go to Cabin
Fever a ton. Know the owner really good and you know when they talk about archery and stuff,
you know going there once and you see, I mean most the time when I go to, I don't like to Cabin
Fever to shoot because there's always kids and stuff in there but it's fun to sit there. I mean all
these little girls and stuff that are shooting. How many people I ran in like oh I saw you at Susan
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shooting and you become friends you know, this type of deal. Now like he was saying, you
shoot this way. The woods is here and you know when I heard that it was closed I was trying to
think like, what houses? You know like and then well it has to be the ones you know and like
you said, they're shooting. I mean they almost have to be shooting straight up. All the way over
that woods, et cetera. I think there's point out some viable solutions to put up something you
know whether it's canvas or whatever. And like I say I think it's just a couple bad apples. I
mean I've been there, I've shot there. Well I shot there one morning and a cop drove down the
tar path and rolled down the window and he was like oh, sorry. You know just checking on you.
I've shot there early morning. Evenings. It's a peaceful little place. I've shot, I used to shoot at
Carver Park. I've seen kids show up with BB guns out there. I mean it's like, it's just Susan's a
nice little place to go shoot and you don't have to worry about the big crowds but, and when
guys do show up, the guys that I've met anyway, they're serious guys. You know the one guy he
called me and I was away from work. He felt bad that he got stuck at work tonight. He shoots
there. I run into him all the time and he lives right in Chanhassen here too so like I said I feel
bad that they found arrows. The other thing too is I would look at you know the arrows. If you
can see them too because a lot of times you can look at an arrow and you can tell if it's a legit
arrow like a guy like I would shoot. My arrows are at lest 20 bucks a piece. I mean I'm not
firing them over the woods. Like when I break one or shoot one target at a time because I don't
want to Robin Hood them because I'm not out there to drop 50 bucks every time I shoot. Now
the bows, I shoot an 80 pound bow you know. I mean they are powerful but they are extremely
accurate but I've seen people out there you know shooting recurves. You know way cool and
I've seen a kid that I asked him if he was trying out for the Renaissance Festival because he had
like a Medieval you know like, I took a video of him. It was you know I called him Igor. I saw
him at the gym. I go to Lifetime a lot but he was practicing there so you see you know all types
of it and then being that you know Jeff that owns Cabin Fever,just being there and seeing how
much the sport has grown with all these young kids. A lot of times I sit there and I'll just help
them and I won't even shoot my bow but I start thinking of you know them people and
everybody that I know I tell them Susan. The little park there because it's, like I said I've shot at
all the other ones and like Shakopee like I said I just ended up shooting in my back yard because
when I went to Shakopee a couple nights there it was people. You know there was people there.
There was only, it goes up to 60 yards but there's only, what is it? Five. There's not very many
slots so I mean 6 people show up and you're waiting you know and then the mosquitoes come
out and I even went there the one morning and shot at 6:00 in the morning just to get away from
all of that but you've got you know a peaceful,nice little range there like I said it's my favorite.
Hopefully you can come to a solution. There's got to be a solution with you know netting or
something. The other thing too I was thinking, you know what about, what about making people
want to shoot there. They've got to register. That maybe they've got to pass a shooting test or
something like if you do, if you do like the Metro Bow Hunt you have to pass a test that Cabin
Fever or something like that but maybe to shoot there maybe you have to be registered you
know. I'm just thinking it's a couple bad apples and I hate to see everybody suffer over you
know a couple kids screwing around or something and I know the guys, I know quite a few guys
that shoot there and I know they would say something if anybody was screwing around there so
like I said I feel bad for the homeowners. I just hope that you know whether there's another
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location that works better than that but I've got to think that you know some sort of enclosure.
The other thing too is, like they brought up like Powers Boulevard and the back side, you know
again that's going to be somebody firing arrows straight up in the air. The same people that are
shooting them over the woods in order for it to get there. I mean I shoot, I've been shooting my
bow every day, twice a day, three times a day for my mountain hunt I went on and you know
when people say like getting sore like it's, no. I can shoot my bow 200 times you know at 80
pounds but that's because I'm you know, I'm used to shooting it and everything like that so,but
that's all I've got, thank you.
Kelly: Thank you Jeff. Anybody else like to come up and speak? Any questions of staff for
Todd? I've lived in this community for about 23 years. When I first moved into Chanhassen it
was a farming community. I used to hear a lot of rifle shots. Now whether they were hunting
legal or not I don't know because I'm not a hunter but as the community grew the rifle shots
went away. The hunting rights went away and the only way I can be talked into keeping the
archery range open is if Todd can guarantee me that we can build something and there will not
be a stray arrow that goes into the neighborhood and that means not one. If one child died or got
maimed, I couldn't live with myself so I couldn't be for it and that's where I'm coming from.
Anybody else like to comment?
Canon: I don't think in any life situation we're going to unfortunately have 100 percent
guarantee. That's the down side of everything but in talking to some people and outside of
tonight and listening to both sides of the neighborhood and the people that use the archery range,
I think that we all agree that it's a great asset to this area. It's just that there needs some safety
improvements. I think that could very well enhance this area and still keep it safe for all. Now
again you're not going to get 100 percent because if someone goes out from Lake Susan pavilion
and shoots an arrow in the air or across the street, that's something that's going to have to be
brought up with the police or something along those lines. I don't think we can keep that at 100
percent but I think that, I think from what we heard and what staff has kind of talked about as far
as a temporary backstop or what we've kind of heard tonight is what Starring Lake and even the
dog park right behind it. Right behind Starring Lake. There's ways to make these areas safe and
if it's an enclosure, if it's something that we have to discuss with considering that it's our own
Chanhassen code if I read this right Todd as far as impeding the flow of flood water. Any new
structure temporary or permanent would impede the flow of flood water would not likely be
permitted. Maybe we can design something that does not impede flow water that's more of an
enclosure type area and I think that's, that's an option to look at. I'm also looking at the sign
here from what we have out there currently and it says 14 years and under must be supervised. I
think that can be revised and looked at as well to either encompass 18 or 21 years old as
supervised too. From our research that's been given to us as a commission from earlier and then
also just looking online a lot of them say 18 years old and under have to be supervised so I'd be
in favor of that as well with keeping the archery range open but before opening it back up
making some modifications to enhance the safety of this area.
Kelly: Other comments.
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Scharfenberg: Well I think as a commission we all, when we're talking about anything that we
do in the parks that we always look at safety first so I think that all of us are concerned when we
have reports of arrows in a neighborhood and having been on the commission for a significant
period of time and as indicated earlier, this is the first report that we've had you know this year
of these issues with the arrows. I think it is as people have voiced tonight it's, the range is
something that is important to people and people like to use it and clearly we don't want to shut
down something that provides benefit to the community. We have you know, if you look at just
not only the range in terms of liability issues, we have lakes that are used and people are going to
be using the lakes. We have the risk of someone drowning at any one of the lakes and so there's
always risk in life as we know that you could get hit by a car or something like that. I struggle
with this particular recommendation that has been made by staff to close something down
without you know looking at the potential options that are out there. We've talked tonight,
there's been ideas that have been put forth and my thought would be to keep the range closed
temporarily until we look at and explore all of these options and building and what the costs of
that would be and if it's possible to do it and do it safely then I think we'd bring that back and
consider that again I would say in the spring of re-opening at that time.
Kelly: Todd didn't we look at a number of options that you decided were not, that were either
not cost affordable or we just couldn't do it?
Hoffman: There's a variety of structures that could be analyzed but the real barrier here is, you
would need a variance from both floodplain restrictions and then also there's a DNR waterway
directly adjacent to this so just off to the, can you zoom in Jerry? Just off to the left of the targets
there's the creek and so this creek is Riley Creek coming from Lake Ann to Lake Susan and
that's a DNR waterway. There's going to be setbacks for any kind of a structure to that DNR
waterway and then on the right hand side is the wetland and there's going to be setbacks from
that as well. So you have an overall floodplain. This has flooded a couple of times. The last
time I saw it flooded the water was about half way up the archery targets if you recall. That was
a Labor Day storm probably in about 2006. Somewhere in there so over at the water overtopped
Powers Boulevard. Flooded this entire area. That's why it's a floodplain. That's one restriction
that you would need a variance from. The other would be the variance for a structure that close
to a DNR waterway and then also that close to a wetland so what we'd want to do first is to
identify is that, are those variances possible. Could we go through that process to grant those
variances and those would be from most likely the watershed district and then the City itself.
Carron: When you're talking variances you're talking permanent or temporary?
Hoffman: Either. Most likely a permanent structure. A temporary structure I don't think you'd
have a problem here.
Audience: One question? If you put up some steel poles and ran a chainlink fence,make an
enclosure out of chainlink fence and then during the season when you had targets up, cover it
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
with a canvas or some other kind of material. When you removed it you don't have to bring it all
the way down to the ground. You could have it 2 feet off the ground and any water could flow
through there. That might be a possible solution that would be cost effective. You have the
shield out, nobody has to go out what 10 feet before the angles start to come into play where you
can't physically go any farther than that backdrop. So if you cover it with chainlink fence, the
water can flow through. It'd be cheap and you can roll some kind of a heavy duty canvas or
something over it. That might be a possible solution that would be cost effective to try.
Kelly: Thank you. Yeah go ahead.
Hoffman: Actually you guys should come forward to the microphone.
Kelly: Yeah come up to the microphone and address us.
Jeff Lobitz: Jeff from Watertown. Have you guys been out to the site? I mean all physically
have been down there? Because like if you look to the right of the platform even, I'm thinking if
they're shooting those arrows they have to be off that platform even. You know with the trees
growing up and stuff like that or you know like, I supposed I could be on the very end shooting
spot and shooting up but like he said with, or like when you say a structure, are you talking about
a structure that's built flat to the ground with like walls and stuff that go straight to the ground
versus like 4 to 6 poles kind of like how the archery, that holds the targets you know. Like 4 of
those and then it's up and then everything is built up off the ground. You know what I mean,
like he said. You'd have to, the bottom part could be open so if there is water coming, you've
got 4 by 4 poles. That's the only thing that's restricting the water. How can that be much
different than the target holders in a sense?
Hoffman: Any permanent structure here,posts in the ground. Fencing.
Canon: It's all the same.
Hoffman: It's all the same. It's going to require a variance from 2 different sets of regulations.
Jeff Lobitz: Okay.
Audience: Are those very hard to get?
Hoffman: They go through a public hearing process. We would do this all over again at the
variance hearing.
Kelly: Thanks Todd. Any other questions? Any other thoughts?
Hougham: From what we've heard today from both sides I'm not sure that even coming up with
a solution for this specific location would meet the safety concerns of the nearby neighborhood.
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I'm all for having an archery range. I think I would prefer that we continue to search for an
alternative location that's farther away from nearby houses. One of the jobs of this park and rec
commission is to build out the park system for the city of Chanhassen and if we don't have a spot
for it right now, it's something we can continue to look to do in the future.
Kari Davis: One other light bulb came on.
Kelly: Kari, announce yourself again. Who you are.
Kari Davis: Sorry, Kari Davis, 8200 West Lake Court. I was up here earlier sharing with you
some of the conversation from our neighborhood meeting. I just remembered one other point
just for the sake of due diligence and actually I'm up here as a generic Chanhassen taxpayer too.
A point was raised, what about the City's liability and just hopefully as we go through this
process and evaluate our options, whether it's a different location. Closing it down. Or coming
up with safety, you know a safer structure where it is, I assume that's something you guys are
way ahead of me on in terms of evaluating any liability that our City would have if something
goes wrong and I can't help but wonder considering all the concern that has been expressed and
documented tonight, and before that, you know if that would somehow make that a more
sensitive issue or of greater concern to our city so just a thought. Thank you.
Kelly: Thank you. Todd has the City Attorney weighed in from a liability standpoint?
Hoffman: Similar to some of the conversations we have had earlier, we operate a lot of things.
A variety of different amenities that have risk. This is one of them. It's no different than any of
the other ones.
Kelly: Thank you.
Canon: I'm still in favor of not shutting down this range and doing something to enhance the
safety of it. To enhance people shooting straight down range and also take out the,building a
cage of some style so that, on a temporary basis so that we meet all the ordinances and codes
through the City that take away all misfires in any direction. And also improving the signage to
give direction to shooters on the fact that all shooting should take place within the cage. To up
the minimum age that's non-supervised because I think we should, it's been there for 25 years. I
understand one arrow is enough to hurt somebody but I also understand that if we improve the
safety that might have taken away that one arrow. As we discussed before we don't know how
that happened. We can speculate but I think if we, I think we should give the option of trying to
improve the safety of this area. Improving the shooting platform to improve the safety before we
lose the archery range.
Boettcher: And I would second that along with what Steve said earlier. You know looking at
options. I come from an industry where safety was like number one as an engineer when you
looked at 7 things in designing a vehicle so safety is huge but again looking at the value of it.
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
The people that are dedicated to teaching it to children. Stuff like that and I think what Steve
mentioned something about a full enclosure, you're never going to guarantee 100 percent. If you
take this out somebody's still going to walk up there and just shoot because they used to. Unless
you make it a concrete dome and you can't get to it. There's always going to be the bad guys.
You know you're never going to stop it 100 percent but I would like to explore the option which
probably involves keeping it closed for the rest of this year and looking at safety wise what else
can we do. Relocation. Anything else. I favor both what Brent and Steve have already voiced.
Thunberg: Yeah on a similar note I guess thank you for everyone that has come today.
Appreciate hearing all the sides. You know I think Chanhassen obviously we have great assets
with our parks and trails and a variety of amenities and we've looked at things like pickleball is a
growing sport and we've tried to do more when that comes up so hearing that this is a growing
sport you know, closing it I can see where that would be a disadvantage. However I look at this
as one arrow is too much. I know we're not going to ever prevent 100 percent of accidents but
accepting that level of risk. If I put myself in that neighborhood I think one arrow is too much
and unfortunately this may be a case where one bad apple kind of ruins it for everyone. The
motion that's been presented to say it was permanently close and donating so that is kind of not
being revisited, I guess if we came up with something that was close to the remainder of the
season and staff felt like we've heard some new options tonight and that over the winter with the
park plan that's being done, if this was put in as a topic so it wasn't permanently closed but it
was, we still explored it, I guess I could get behind that but yeah keeping it,reopening it this
season I just don't see as an option.
Kelly: Does somebody want to make a motion?
Carron: I'd like to change the proposed motion and make a motion that this commission
recommend to staff that the archery range reopen once a temporary shooting enclosure is
fabricated to safely encompass the entire shooting area extending 10 to 12 feet down range. Also
to modify the signage to include 18 years and under to be supervised and also to give direction
that all shooting take place within the enclosure.
Kelly: There is a motion out there that we close, I didn't catch how long we closed it for.
Canon: We reopen when the temporary shelter is fabricated.
Kelly: Okay. That we close the range and reopen it when we have a temporary shelter and
signage up. Is there a second?
Thunberg: Could we, instead of saying reopen would it be, what about re-wording it to say
remains temporarily closed until all options can be further studied. I agree with you on adding
something in there about the signage but I don't think, the signage doesn't need to be updated
unless there's further safety measures. I think you called that out but rather than the motion
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saying will reopen I would prefer it saying remain temporarily closed until further exploration of
safety measures.
Carron: So basically you'd want to table it. You'd just want to table it?
Thunberg: I think it needs to remain closed for the season because we don't have an answer and
to be honest I don't think an answer is going to be found and put into this park. If Todd is saying
that variances would need to be explored and what not,realistically nothing's going to happen
this season. I'm not saying table it forever. I think with the, we just launched an advisory
committee for a park master plan and again going back to the example of pickleball. We didn't
talk about that 3 years ago and it's now a frequent topic of conversation. Now that we've, for the
next year developing a park master plan, that's a great opportunity to continue if we wanted to
continue to explore this and what would be needed. Whether it's a new location if that's
possible. Whether it's permanent closure or whether it is exploring variances that hey if that
shelter, I agree that you'd have to build something only big enough to prevent the angle. You
may not need to cover the whole thing but we don't know if that's even possible with the
variances that Todd mentioned so I don't think it's, I'm not saying table it and just not revisit it.
If that was the case I would just say keep it closed.
Carron: Well that's why I kind of reworded it that we'd reopen once it is installed. If it can't be
installed it wouldn't be reopened.
Hoffman: Your motion includes a temporary structure which given a forecast of the kind of rain
that has to flood that thing, you can just go down there and remove that before that occurs and so
that's why I'm saying if you do a temporary structure you're likely not going to seek a variance.
You're going to take, you're going to purchase a moveable batting cage. Transport it to that site.
Stake it down. It's going to stay there and if you had a flooding situation you would remove it
before that water approached this site. That's different than, to get a variance to create the kind
of structure that you're looking at in Eden Prairie is likely very challenging. Primarily the
floodplain is easier than the waterway. The waterways are directly adjacent to this site and
constructing, you have setbacks from those waterways for facilities and so a temporary structure
is a more viable option.
Kelly: We currently have a motion out there to reopen the archery range after we have safety
measures put up and signage. Is there a second?
Scharfenberg: Well just I would ask Brent are you willing to consider changing the language per
Luke's suggestion?
Canon: Can you be more specific Steve in what regards.
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Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
Scharfenberg: Well with respect to instead of saying that it will reopen that the, something to the
effect that the archery range would remain closed at this time until staff considers additional
recommendations for temporary structures that would allow us potentially to reopen the range.
Canon: Yeah I guess that's fine if we want to discuss it.
Kelly: Would you like to withdraw your motion?
Canon: No.
Kelly: Okay. Then we're still looking for a second on the original motion. Is there a second?
With no second the motion fails. Is there a new motion out there?
Hoffman: Chairman can I just provide some clarification I think on what the process would be
here? This body closed the archery range temporarily. You can reopen it as well. But for the
fact if you start purchasing equipment that's going to take a budgetary approval which would
require City Council action. So if your motion is to keep it closed. Have staff present you with
an option that we think is viable, which would include a budgetary recommendation, and then
you present that to the City Council. If they approve that budgetary recommendation then by
that action they're saying they agree with that recommendation. Then that would be purchased
in 2017 and installed and by that motion if you say, if that action is approved then it reopens
when this equipment is put in place in the spring of 2017. So just some structure to how this
would all take place. If you want to reopen it tomorrow as is that's up to your decision.
Kelly: Thank you for the clarification Todd.
Boettcher: Steve you had a good summarization there if you can put in legal terms.
Canon: I'll revise my proposed motion that this commission ask staff to provide us with cost
and feasibility of a temporary structure and what it may look like along with any kind of
additional signage so that we can consider that to improve the safety of this course. Or this
archery range I should state, next meeting. Is that clear? Or should I restate it because I kind of.
Kelly: Would you restate it.
Carron: I apologize. I would recommend to the staff that staff provide the commission a
proposal including cost to safely encompass the shooting range and any additional safety
measures that we can consider at our next commission meeting.
Kelly: What I'm not hearing is if the range stays open or closed.
Canon: To caveat that I would say the range stays closed until that point.
20
Park and Recreation Commission—August 23, 2016
Kelly: Okay. We have a motion out there to keep the archery range closed and have staff check
out safety cost and feasibility of a temporary structure meeting our safety needs at the next
meeting. Does that sound correct? Is there a second?
Boettcher: Second.
Kelly: There is a motion as previously stated. It has been seconded.
Carron moved, Boettcher seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission ask staff to
provide the cost and feasibility of a temporary structure to encompass the shooting range
firing line and any additional safety measures to consider at the next commission meeting,
and that the temporary closure of the archery range be maintained at this time. All voted
in favor except for Kelly and Hougham who opposed. The motion carried with a vote of 5
to 2.
Hoffman: Chairman do you know what the final vote was?
Kelly: By my, 5 to 2, does that sound right? Yeah that's what I'm guessing.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Canon: Thank you everyone for coming and giving your input. Appreciate it.
Kelly: Yep thank you very much for your time this evening. Okay, we'll wait a moment.
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING REQUEST TO PROVIDE PICKLEBALL
COURT LINES ON MUNICIPAL BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURTS.
Kelly: Okay moving onto G-2. Recommend concerning request to provide pickleball court lines
on municipal basketball and tennis courts. Todd, you want to speak upon staff
recommendations?
Ruegemer: Yeah okay, we're going to wait a quick second here. Oh, it's quieting down,
awesome. Thanks Chair Kelly and the rest of the commission. We're going to talk about the
sport of pickleball. Like Luke said 3 years ago we weren't talking about pickleball so that's how
quick things can change. The sport of pickleball is very popular in our Chanhassen area as well
as the southwest metro area. The popularity has led the City of Chan and the park and rec
commission to take a look at providing facilities that currently exist at the Chanhassen
Recreation Center. Recently the City did request, receive requests to place pickleball lines on a
basketball court at Bandimere Heights Park and also the tennis court at North Lotus Lake Park.
Similar to other cities organizations Chanhassen has created pickleball courts in community or
larger neighborhood parks where it kind of fits the need of that geographic area, parking and
proximity to neighboring residents. These courts by and large what we've developed have been
21
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Hoffman, Todd
From: Stephen Jones <stephenjonesinspro@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday,August 24, 2016 1:59 PM
To: Hoffman, Todd
Subject: Meeting 8/23
Todd.
Thanks for your information regarding the Archery range. I had to step out to get home before the final
decision.
May I get that from you?
The meeting seemed to get more leverage from the Archers who use the Chan facility largely because it is
usually open and less traffic.They are not the problem. I use it too.
The disturbing issue with me is the fact that we are measuring two reported incidents against 25 years. So
what! 1 is too many but seeing tow arrows in a year and another neighbour found a few in his yard. This is
serious stuff and you want to keep it there because you and others like myself,want to use the range Move it to
a safe place and keep the sport in Chanhassen.
Do you need another incident with an injury or death report to move the range? If so, what do you think that
would cost the city versus moving it across Powers in the woods.
I will volunteer my time to get that setup. The trails are there, the landscape is perfect and it's 200 yards farther
to walk to for a choice archery range site.
Regulating the age limits, putting up temporary structures will not solve what can be solved by moving it to a
secure location. Plus the costs will be very comparable to build a new site close by I'm certain is far less.
My plan is to stay on top of this because the situation is dangerous and I feel the city is not on the same page in
seeing that as our neighborhood does. Please think this over.
I welcome your reply and plan to address the commissioner and mayor.
Cordially,
Stephen Jones
1
Hoffman, Todd
From: Michelle Zeug <michellezeug@archerytrade.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 1:18 PM
To: Laufenburger, Denny; Hoffman, Todd; City Council
Subject: Archery Range
Mayor Laufenburger,Council members and Director Hoffman—I got a call from one of your residents today regarding
your meeting tonight on the archery range. I don't know the entire situation, but I do know that archery is growing and
our participants could use more places to shoot. We just completed a national survey and from 2012 to 2015,archery
has grown from 18.9 million to 23.8 million nationwide in that short time.The state of Minnesota has one of the biggest
National Archery in the Schools Programs, including many of the schools in your area.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/epr/archery/index.html. In fact,one of our retail members is not far from you,Jeff
Byrne,at Cabin Fever Sporting Goods and he is very active in that program.
We know there are many risk management issues and we've tried to address them in our Archery Park Guide, pages 5-8;
https://www.archervtrade.org/uploads/documents/ATA-Archery-Park-Guide-NEW.pdf. If you need any assistance or
guidance, or simply want to contact me for more information, please don't hesitate.
Good luck with your meeting tonight.Z
Michelle Zeug
Dir. of Community and International Programs
Archery Trade Association
612.209.1484
michellezeug@archerytrade.org
1
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Hoffman, Todd
From: Laufenburger, Denny
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 4:19 PM
To: Gerhardt, Todd; Hoffman, Todd
Subject: Fwd: Chanhassen Archery Range Temporary Closing
Denny Laufenburger
Mayor, Chanhassen
612-327-6800
Sent via iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Ryskiewicz, Nathan T." <Nathan.Ryskiewicz( iwco.com>
Date: June 30, 2016 at 3:35:36 PM CDT
To: "council(cr�ci.chanhassen.mn.us" <council(rci.chanhassen.mn.us>
Subject: Chanhassen Archery Range Temporary Closing
Good Afternoon
I recently read the article in the StarTribune that the city of Chanhassen has decided to
temporarily close the archery range at Lake Susan. I work at IWCO Direct that is just down the
street from the archery range. Myself, as well as many other employees that work here, utilize
the range multiple times a week as noted in the article over lunch hours and after work. I am
very sorry to hear that arrows were found on private property. I am all for safety. I hope the city
finds a way to re-open the archery range and provide added safety features.
http://www.startribune.com/chanhassen-archery-range-closed-for-safety-after-neighbors-
fi nd-arrows-on-property/385081001/
Thank you for your time.
Nate Ryskiewicz
Account Manager
IWCO Direct
Phone: 952-470-5633
Cell: 952-484-6788
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This
e-mail, and any files/attachments transmitted,may include confidential and/or proprietary
information from IWCO Direct, intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom
they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient,you are hereby notified that disclosure,
printing, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this
electronic information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error,
please immediately notify the sender by reply message and then delete the electronic message
and any files/attachments.
1
Hoffman, Todd
From: Todd Gates <gates.todd@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday,August 19, 2016 7:57 AM
To: Hoffman, Todd; Ruegemer,Jerry; Favro, Katie
Subject: Lake Susan Archery Range
Todd,Jerry, Katie,
I believe I speak for all local archers in expressing my disappointment in the recommendation forwarded to the Park and
Recreation Commission to close the Lake Susan Archery range. Agreed,the presence of an arrow in a nearby residence
is alarming. I certainly do not have all the information related to the discovery of the errant arrow(s), but I find it
difficult to agree with the staff reports conclusion that is the result of a draw misfire. More likely, it was an intentional
act or possibly placed by hand as a joke,either of which should not result in eliminating a resource valued by those of us
in the local community that use the range responsibly.
Regardless of the cause, if the decision is made to close the range at Lake Susan then the city should make it a priority to
relocate it. It is part of our community,just like our local parks, bike/hiking trails, ball fields, skate park, hockey rinks,
disc golf course, etc. Please find a way to provide a local archery range to our community.
Todd Gates
Chanhassen resident(16 yrs)
1
Hoffman, Todd
From: Linda Boerboom <lindab468@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 4:00 PM
To: Hoffman, Todd
Cc: Laufenburger, Denny
Subject: Lake Susan Archery Range
Dear Mr. Hoffman and Members of the Park & Rec Commission
I am writing in regards to the Lake Susan Archery Range. I live at 8261 West Lake Court which is in the
neighborhood that is right next to the Lake Susan archery range.
As I shared at the August 23rd meeting and the June 28th meeting I had an arrow show up in my front yard and
it was not lying down but on an angle which shows, in my best estimate, that it came up over the trees and the
homes across the street from me. This arrow had to have been traveling at a very strong speed to come that
distant. My home is across the street from my neighbor, Stephen Jones, and other neighbors whose back
yards abut the range.
As I did attend the Park and Rec meeting of August 23`d and was and continue to be disappointed in the
decision that was made at the Park& Rec meeting to consider a netting structure(similar to a baseball practice
batting cage) as a preventive measure for errant arrows. I am not an archer and certainly do not want those who
enjoy this sport to not have a site that would allow them to enjoy this sport in Chanhassen. I agree with my
neighbor, Stephen, there is an option across Power's Blvd that could be developed into a lovely area that would
provide for the archers a place that they could enjoy this sport and be safe in doing so and this new site or
another site in Chanhassen(not Lake Susan) would also provide for my neighborhood families,my family,
myself and any other individuals who come into our neighborhood to know they are safe from any "errant"
arrows.
I agree with Commissioner Chairman Kelly "one arrow is one to many". I cannot fathom how our lives are not
valuable to only warrant a batting cage structure. If the archery range remains in its current location we will
always be vulnerable to arrows (also known as a weapon)that could be carelessly discharged by someone who
is just learning,mishandled by the best of archers or some other circumstance that an arrow would be
discharged and not be within the area of the proposed netting. I am sure no one on the Commission would want
to think that an arrow could show up in our neighborhood and possibly cause human or animal harm, or loss of
life, or property damage at any time; even with the best meaning archer or safety net but if the range stays in its
current location this is possible.
1
1 trust that as a Commission each will make the decision that will be in the best interest of our neighborhood,
archers and the City of Chanhassen.
I do not have emails for the Park and Recreation Commission Committee - Please send my email on to each.
Thank you
Respectfully,
Linda Boerboom
Linda Boerboom
8261 West Lake Court
Chanhassen MN 55317
612-396-7230 (Cell)
2
Public Archery Range Grants: Minnesota DNR Page 1 of 2
Public Archery Range Grants
Program purpose:
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources created the Public Archery Range
Grants Program to assist county, regional, city and other public agencies in supporting
Minnesota's growing interest in archery by making grant funds available to develop,
improve or rehabilitate public archery ranges.
Eligible projects:
Archery range work must be done by a county, regional, city, public agency or local
unit of government in Minnesota. Grant funding maybe used for grading and site
preparation; building backstops and safety berms; purchasing or replacing target
frames and targets; installing bow racks and ground quivers; and installing safety
signage and other features deemed essential to a safe and functional range.
Projects must be completed before June 30, 2017. Proof of insurance coverage for the
duration of the project must be provided to the DNR prior to full execution of grant
agreement.
Who may apply:
County, regional, city, public agency or local unit of government in Minnesota
Level of assistance:
The DNR will determine how much money is available each year; currently the total is
$100,000. Groups may apply for a single grant per grant cycle. Matching grants of
$5,000 ($10,000 total project cost) to $25,000 ($50,000 total project cost) are
available.
General information:
The Department provides grant funds annually as authorized by the Legislature.
Allocation of funds for the Public Archery Range Grants Program occurs on an annual
basis at the discretion of the Commissioner. All grant agreements must comply with the
laws and regulations governing the Agency.
How to apply:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/archery-range/index.html 9/8/2016
Public Archery Range Grants: Minnesota DNR Page 2 of 2
Use the application form supplied in the application packet, and include all
documentation at the time you submit your written application. Incomplete or late
applications will not be accepted. Applications must be received by 2 p.m. Thursday,
Feb. 25. To request an example project drawing or grant agreement, contact Jay
Johnson, DNR Hunter Recruitment and Retention coordinator, at
jay.johnson@state.mn.us.
For more information:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Attn: Jay Johnson, Hunter Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4020
Phone: (651) 259-5191
Fax: (651) 297-3727
E-mail: jay.johnson@state.mn.us
Related DNR Programs:
None
Other Related Programs:
None
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/archery-range/index.html 9/8/2016
MNDNR
Public Archery Range Grants
Grant Application Packet
Maximum amount per grant cycle to be awarded will be$25,000 per grantee($50,000 total project budget).
Minimum amount per grant cycle to be awarded will be$5,000($10,000 total project budget).
Y�=
1-6
•
•
Application Deadline:
Completed grant applications must be received by
2:00 p.m.,Thursday, February 25, 2016
Late submissions will not be accepted
Submit your written application to:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish and Wildlife
ATTN:Jay Johnson, Hunter Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road, Box 20
St. Paul, MN 55155-4020
Table of Contents
General information Page
Introduction 3
Questions 3
How to Apply 3
Who is Eligible 4
Grant Requirements and Limitations 5
How Grant Applications are Scored 6
Application Timeline 6
Application materials
Grant Application Form 7-10
2
Minnesota DNR Public Archery Range Grants
Introduction:
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources created the Public Archery Range Grants Program to
assist County, Regional, City, and public agencies work in supporting Minnesota's growing interest in
archery.
Developing a grants program for public entities is an element of the Department's strategy for
expanding the reach of their Outreach section programs and enhancing bow hunting and recreational
archery recruitment and retention.
The Department provides grant funds annually as authorized by the Legislature. Allocation of funds for
the Public Archery Range Grant Program is expected to occur on a biennial basis at the discretion of the
Commissioner. All grant agreements must comply with the laws and regulations governing the Agency.
Questions:
If you have a question about these grants or any of the application materials, contact Jay Johnson,the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Hunter Recruitment and Retention Coordinator at
(651) 259-5191, or via e-mail:jay.johnson@state.mn.us.
How to apply:
You must use the application form supplied in this packet, and must include all documentation at the
time you submit your written application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Applications post-marked on or before Thursday, February 25, 2016 but not physically received prior to
2:00 p.m. will not be accepted.
Three complete sets of the application with original signatures, supporting documentation and plans
must be submitted.The materials and documentation must be on standard, letter-sized 8.5 x 11 paper.
Deadline: Completed grant applications, including any supporting documentation, must be received on
or before 2:00 p.m.,Thursday, February 25, 2016. Deliver or submit your application by mail to:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish and Wildlife
ATTN:Jay Johnson, Hunter Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road, Box 20
St. Paul, MN 55155-4020
(651) 259-5191
3
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for a Public Archery Range Grant,the grantee:
1. Must be a county, regional, city, public agency or local unit of Government in Minnesota.
2. Must complete the project before June 30, 2017.
3. Project must be the development of a new public archery range or the expansion, enhancement,
or rehabilitation of an existing public archery range.
4. Grant proposals must include a signed letter from the appropriate local authorities (County
Commissioner, Mayor, etc.)that indicates that all permits and permissions necessary to establish
the archery range have been obtained.
5. Must provide proof of insurance coverage for the duration of the project to the Department prior
to full execution of grant agreement.
Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be rejected.
The Department creates funding priorities for the Public Archery Range Grant Program.The funding
priority for this grant cycle is:
1. NEW outdoor public archery range development in County, Regional, City public parks or other
publically owned properties including grading and preparation of archery range footprint,
construction of backstops berms,target holders, bow racks, protective fencing, signs, shooting
lines,target lanes, and other items considered by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources to be essential for the development and operation of the range.
2. Expansion, enhancement or rehabilitation of existing public archery ranges on County, Regional,
City public parks or publically owned properties including the addition of shooting lanes and
target butts, creation of ADA accessible shooting lines and paths to targets, replacement of
target butts and frames,creation of berms, installation of fencing and signage to increase safety
expanding static archery ranges to include special youth or beginner ranges or walk-through
ranges.
Applicants are encouraged to use guidance and design principals from the Archery Trade Association
Archery Park Guide and National Field Archery Association Guide for all projects. See guidelines here:
Grant requirements and limitations:
1. Funding for range projects is available from several sources including public funding from the Federal
Pittman-Robertson (PR) Wildlife Restoration grant (50 CFR 80.50). For approved projects identified
for Pittman-Robertson funding,the successful applicant will expand on the original proposal to meet
federal grant application requirements. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will work
with the successful applicant to complete the required compliance documentation for the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation
Act. For PR funded projects, ranges must be made available for MN DNR Bowhunter Education
Training classes upon request.
2. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will determine how much money is available each
grant cycle; currently the total is$100,000. Groups may apply for a single grant per grant cycle.
Maximum amount per grant cycle to be awarded will be$25,000 per grantee ($50,000 total
project budget). Minimum amount per grant cycle to be awarded will be$5,000($10,000 total
project budget).The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources may partially fund project(s) at its
discretion.
4
3. Grant requests of$25,000 or greater are subject to financial review. Before awarding a grant of over
$25,000 all non-governmental organizations must have recent financial statements assessed by the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Here are details about this requirement.
4. Submitted projects must be completed before Friday,June 30,2017.
5. A 1:1, dollar for dollar match of non-state dollars or in-kind labor, services, or materials is a
requirement; larger percentage matches will be considered a positive asset during the evaluation
and scoring process. For example, if the archery range is estimated to cost$20,000, you the grantee
will be required to provide$10,000 in cash or in-kind match and the state will then match that with
$10,000 in grant funding.
6. Grant project funding will be reimbursed to the grantee upon completion of the project and
submission of a request for reimbursement. Consideration for covering expenses,costs,prior to
submitting project related invoices, receipts,and request for reimbursement should be made.
7. Grant recipients shall be required to sign a Grant Agreement(for an example of what you will be
required to sign,email jay.johnson@state.mn.us) with the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources immediately following notification of acceptance. When the grant agreement is fully
executed
(signed by all parties), it becomes public data.
8. No costs/expenses can or will be reimbursed for items prior to the full execution of the grant
agreement. Full execution is achieved the date the State obtains all required signatures.
9. All projects must be open to the public a minimum of 100 days per calendar year and all parking lots,
paths, and archery ranges must be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here is
information on ADA requirements.
10.The State of Minnesota requires proof of insurance coverage for the duration of the project
11. Projects must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Grants dollars cannot be used for activities such as, but not limited to:
• For-profit projects
• Private range development projects
• Staff
• Overhead
• Law Enforcement
How grant applications are scored:
Grant applications are scored by a panel of at least three judges with each judge submitting a separate
score sheet. Points are awarded according to how well the proposed project meets scoring criteria
below:
1. Project location &need (50 points possible)
• Need and the anticipated benefits of the proposed range
• Proximity to population centers(proposals located in or near large population centers will be
scored higher)
5
■ Proximity to National Archery in the Schools(NASP) school locations (projects close to
multiple NASP schools will be scored higher)
■ For new range development projects, proximity to other public archery ranges(proposals
close to existing public archery ranges will be scored lower)
■ Incorporated into footprint of an existing park (ranges that are incorporated into an existing
park and are close to existing ball fields, shelters, restrooms, etc. will be scored higher)
2. Financial Need (20 points possible)
■ Amount of Funding compared to total project budget (projects with a lower ratio of state to
applicant funding will be scored higher)
■ Cost Share: Other non-state funding sources (projects with multiple funding partners will be
scored higher)
3. Feasibility of Project(30 points possible)
■ Timeline (projects with a realistic timeline will be scored higher)
■ Scope of Work (projects where the scope of the work matches the goals of the grant program
will be scored higher)
■ Sustainability(projects that have plans to ensure sustainability will be scored higher)
■ Correlation of Project Work with Budget (projects where work to be performed matches
project budget will be scored higher)
■ Staff and Equipment(projects that demonstrate adequate involvement of staff and
equipment to complete the work will be scored higher)
Applicants who do not receive funding in one grant cycle may re-apply in another year.The Director of
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish &Wildlife determines final grant
awards.
Application Timeline:
■ Grant funding and Request for Proposals announced January 2016
■ Applications must be received by 2:00 p.m.,Thursday, February 25, 2016
■ Grant awards announced March 2016
■ Grant agreements drafted between State and grantees Spring 2016
■ Work may begin when the Grant Agreement is completed and is signed by both parties
6
Public Archery Range Grant Application
Deadline 2:00 p.m.,Thursday, February 25, 2016
Note: Make sure the application is complete.This is the only information that will be used when making
funding decisions.
Facility Name:
Facility Address:
Facility City: State: MN Zip:
Representative Name:
Address:
City: State: MN Zip:
Phone: (daytime) (evening)
Email Address:
Project Information:
1. Location and Site—GPS coordinates and/or Town, Range, Section,1/4 Section and include a street
address if possible. Please describe the natural physical features and habitat present (include photos
if desired).
2. Existing Facilities—describe the existing facilities including all shelters, buildings, sports fields,
restrooms, etc. (include photos if desired).
3. Project Contact—Who is the person of primary responsibility for this project? Provide contact name,
address, phone number, e-mail address.
4. Need—explain why the project is necessary.
5. Desired Outcome and Purpose based on need. List specific objectives that will achieve the desired
outcome. Indicate if you will be designing and implementing community and parks and recreation
archery programs at the range.
7
6. Results or Benefits Expected—How many days per year will the range be open to the public?What
days and which hours will it be open? Willa fee be charged and what will that fee be? Range must
be open a minimum of 3 days per week or 100 days per year to be eligible for a grant.
7. Approach and Timeline—describe tasks and anticipated dates of completion including final project
completion.
8. Useful life—How long will the results serve the public good?
9. Project narrative and drawings—attach a description of the project and work to be done, attach
drawings and blueprints for the work.These need to be to scale high quality drawings that
incorporate ADA design requirements. We will not consider proposals with crude, non-
professional designs (for an example of preferred drawing quality, email
jay.johnson@state.mn.us).
10. Budget narrative and detail—please list source of funding. A minimum of a 1:1 dollar for dollar
match (non-state) is required. Match may be in the form of cash or in-kind labor, services, and
materials.
Estimated Funding:
a. Applicant(you) $
b. State (amount you are requesting from DNR) $
c. Local (non-applicant) $
Total project cost $
Budget detail—itemize how the money will be spent (add more lines if necessary).This needs to
match your design and include all anticipated costs. (See example included in this packet).
Item Description Item Cost # Items Total Cost
Total
8
11. Will the range be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at the completion of the
project? If not, the project will not be funded.
12. Partial Funding—Will you accept partial funding?
13. Report—a report detailing the project and expenditures is due within 30 days of completion of the
project. Indicate expected report date.
14. Relationship with Other Grants—If you are receiving other grants for this project, please describe
the nature of the grant and the source of money.
15. Program Income—Is there expected profit from the completed project?
16. General and Other—Any other information on the request should be included here.
Range Details:
1. a. Will the range be open to public shooting a minimum of 100 days per year?
(Note: public shooting means anyone may show up and shoot on the range(s) where this project
work will take place. A reasonable fee may be charged.)Yes ❑ No ❑ (If no, funding
will be denied)
b. Will the range be open more than the minimum stated above?Yes ❑ No ❑
c. How many days of the year, which months, which days of the week, and what are the hours that
you anticipate it will be open?
2. Is the range on public land?Yes ❑ No ❑
3. a. Is range located within 15 miles of a city with a population greater than 50,000?
Yes ❑ No ❑
b. Is range located between 15 and 30 miles from a city with a population greater than 50,000?
Yes ❑ No ❑
c. Is range located within 30 miles of a city with a population between 10,000 and 49,999?
Yes ❑ No ❑
4. Is this project a new facility/range? Yes ❑ No ❑
9
5. Is the range incorporated into the existing footprint of a park that includes ball fields, picnic shelters,
restrooms and other typical park amenities?
Yes ❑ No ❑
6. Is there an existing ADA accessible parking lot at the proposed site of the range?
Yes ❑ No ❑
7. Have all approvals for developing the range been granted?
Yes ❑ No ❑
Representative w/contract delegation signature Date
Title
Grant proposals must include a signed letter from the appropriate local authorities(County
Commissioner, Mayor, etc.)that indicates that all permits and permissions necessary to establish a new
archery range or enhance or rehabilitate and existing archery range have been obtained. Submit this
letter,grant application and supporting plans and documents to:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish and Wildlife
ATTN:Jay Johnson, Hunter Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road, Box 20
St. Paul, MN 55155-4020
10
Lake Susan Park Archery Range
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Chanhassen Archery Report- DRAFT
Background:
The archery range at Lake Susan Park has operated for approximately 25 years.l,2
The range is used by a few hundred visitors per week during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. 1
The City was contacted after a resident found an arrow on their property, located on West Lake Court.1,2
Neighbors report finding other arrows in the neighborhood in the past.'
Location:
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Map of Archery Range and Nearby Houses
The archery range is located in the southwest area of Lake Susan Park, between a wooded section and a
pond that connects to Lake Susan.
The archery range is located in a regulated floodplain.
The archery range is located approximately 150 feet from the back property line of residential parcels on
West Lake Court.3
The archery range sits 8-14 feet in elevation below the back property line of adjacent parcels on West
Lake Court.3
The archery range is located approximately 265 feet from the existing house structures on West Lake
Court.3
The archery range sits approximately 26 feet in elevation below house structures on West Lake Court.3
A strip of deciduous woodland over 200 feet wide separates the archery range and the existing house
structures on West Lake Court.3
Issues:
Arrows are ending up in residential yards. In order for an arrow to travel from the archery range into the
adjacent neighborhood, shots would likely have to travel upward from the archery range area or south
from the range through the existing woodland buffer.
It is unclear how the arrows are getting to backyards, but misfires during the draw cycle of shooting is
the most likely cause.
Potential Courses of Action:
1. Maintain the archery range in the current location with additional signage
2. Relocation of archery range elsewhere in Chanhassen
3. Close the range at Lake Susan Park and do not provide a public archery based recreation facility
in the city.
Maintain the archery range in the current location with additional signage
The addition of signage about bow safety and how to draw a bow would provide information to users
about proper shooting techniques.
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As part of the research for this report, an option was examined to create protective structures at the
Lake Susan Archery Range.The range is in a floodway which means that in flood conditions water may
rise, and potentially flow across the range. Because the existing range does not have structures that
would impede the flow of water, it is allowed as a use in the floodway.Any new structure,temporary or
permanent, would impede the flow of floodwater and would not likely be permitted.'
Benefits
• Minimal additional work needed
• Keeps archery facility near downtown Chanhassen and accessible to many morning and lunch
users
Drawbacks
• Does not physically prohibit arrows from potentially leaving the archery range area.
Potential Cost
Minimal for additional signage
Relocation of Archery Range to somewhere else in the City:
There may be the potential for relocation of the archery range elsewhere in Chanhassen. With an
appropriate location, additional barriers may or may not be needed. A cursory look at sites in the city
did not identify a vacant parcel of land currently owned by the City of Chanhassen of sufficient size and
character to accommodate the relocation of the archery range. New parkland or open space could be
sought to accommodate the construction of a range or an existing park facility such as a ball field could
be re-purposed into a full enclosure archery range.
Benefits
• Appease neighborhood concerns over current location.
Drawbacks
• Potentially removes archery from the core of Chanhassen, making it less accessible to residents
and visitors.
• Most expensive.
Potential Cost
$100,000 to $750,000 or more dependent on site selection, acquisition and development costs.
Additional funding may be needed for land acquisition or replacement of whatever park activity is
displaced in the new location.
Close the range at Lake Susan and do not provide public archery based recreation in the city:
This option would be the permanent closure of the range at Lake Susan.
Benefits
• 100%elimination of the chance that an errant arrow could be fired and leave the currently
approved archery range facility at Lake Susan Park.
Drawbacks
• Loss of the City's sole archery facility as a recreational offering to the residents and visitors of
Chanhassen.
Potential Cost
Minimal cost to remove existing infrastructure
It is also worth noting additional cost may be borne by archers who relocate their archery activities to
private enterprises or by needing to travel to public ranges in other cities.
1. http://www.startribune.com/chanhassen-archery-range-closed-for-safety-after-neighbors-find-
arrows-on-property/385081001/
2. http://www.swnewsmedia.com/chanhassen villager/news/public safety/lake-susan-archery-
range-closed-after-arrows-found-in-neighborhood/article e6362ae2-3b1d-5c86-86c8-
ccf7abe52cb6.html
3. https://gis.co.carver.mn.us/publicparcel/
4. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lake+Susan+Park/tW44.8545189,-
93.5486344,295m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m411s0x0:0x6f15e3860465d15f!8m2!3d44.8558631l4
d-93.5452166
5. Chanhassen City Code
6. https://www.archerytrade.org/uploads/documents/ATA-Archery-Park-Guide-Final.pdf